Kaled finally arrives in Tyria with Aman and learns his soldiers and citizens have become embroiled in the Athesians’ search for a bloodthirsty cult suspected of being the source of ships mysteriously suppled to Louis of Calara after Kaled and Aron had destroyed his fleet. Assigned to a attic suite at the Guest Palace, Kaled and Shalia make the most of the situation, but all is not well. Shalia has become subjected to frustrating mood swings and secret yearnings which threaten the stability her marriage to Kaled, which in turn presents a distraction for Kaled as he seeks alliances among the gathering of kings. It is with trepidation and hope that he enters the great hall of the Council of Kings to present his request for membership of the most elite group of men in the known world. The Games finally begin and the Trade Fair opens to the enthusiastic masses, but the festivities are soon overshadowed by the specter of hostile spies and the presence of an ancient evil. The Calaran competitors have harassed the Vasi units, and when the harassment is taken too far soldiers get hurt. Bret’s attempt to drum up business with a unique plan meets with success, but that success is somewhat soured when he realizes there are people on the fairground with the intent to steal children. Louis of Calara must finally face the reality of who the benefactor that gave him twenty warships really is, and he suspects his nephew Dion, his heir to the crown, has become involved in a plot that will overturn the balances of power in the Common Market.