Mierel of the Sote, a career sellsword, joins his partner, rising champion Ayricalt of the Isles, on a mysterious hunt in a foreign land. Details are scant, and the situation is unquestionably dangerous, but Ayricalt seems steadfastly determined. What secrets await them in the rebellious republics of the Bluebird Isles? And what secrets is their client, the strange Queen of the Ellusenese, withholding? Joined by a purported witch, who regrets little more than meeting them, our heroes navigate this politically sensitive maze with a tactless singlemindedness.

Meanwhile, Siren of the Forest, the young leader of an upstart city-state, wrestles with her own political mess. Greedy, vengeful councilors and violent, foreign interlopers occupy her fraught attention. Powerful friends can take her far--especially when one of those friends is the most feared local goddess. But what does the goddess get out of it? What does she want? And, more importantly, what does Siren get out of it? What does she want? Can she forge a life of meaning from this fantastic--but unenviable--destiny?