Daniel still doesn't understand why he lives, but the Commander won't allow him to die, so he still has a purpose. And a book in a language nobody recognizes. Kathra welcomes the first alien into her comitatus, a young Kaniea woman named A'Alhakoth. Together they travel to A'Alhakoth's home sectors to find allies that might help the Mbaysey resist the might of the Sept Empire. Amarin Pasdar decides that the only way to capture and kill...