

Having risen in wealth, power and social standing but still threatened by powerful enemies, Lady Mara of the Acoma is in as much danger as ever after her triumphs in Daughter of the Empire. After buying a group of Midkemian prisoners-of-war, she finds one of them - Kevin of Zün - to be a great asset in her ongoing struggle for survival and power. In the world of Kelewan, Mara of the Acoma has now become an expert player in the Game of the Council through bloody political maneuvering. When she finds a nobleman ( Kevin of Zün) among a band of slaves from Midkemia, she soon involves him too in her political struggles.

Mara of the Arcoma, Ruling Lady of her house, has established herself as a force within the Empire and a deft player of the Game of the Council, the politics of the empire.
