The twelfth novel in Cherryh's Foreigner space opera series, a
groundbreaking tale of first contact and its consequences...
In the wake of civil war, Bren Cameron, the brilliant human diplomat of
the alien atevi civilization, has left the capital and sought refuge
at his country estate, Najida. But now he is trapped inside
Najida--which has been surrounded by enemies--with Ilisidi, the powerful
grandmother of his ally, Tabini-aiji, atevi leader of the Western
Association. But Ilisidi, the wily and dangerous aiji-dowager, is not
inclined to be passive, and in a brazen maneuver sends Bren into enemy
territory, to the palace of Machigi, the leader of the rebels.
Bren's mission is to negotiate with Machigi--a young atevi lord who
has never actually seen a human--and somehow persuade him to cease his
hostile actions against the West. Bren knows that the autocratic Machigi
rules a fractious clan, and that his hospitality is not guaranteed.
Bren's genius for negotiation enable him to make a daring trade offer to
Machigi--one that seems to interest the young warlord. But Machigi is
suspicious of Ilisidi's motives, and, to Bren's utter shock, evokes an
ancient law that jeopardizes Bren's life. Can Bren stay alive and not
alienate Ilisidi or Tabini, while also representing the interests of
their enemy?
The long-running Foreigner series can also be enjoyed by more casual
genre readers in sub-trilogy installments. Betrayer is the 12th
Foreigner novel, and the 3rd book in the fourth subtrilogy.