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 the powerful grandmother of his
ally, Tabiniaiji, atevi leader of the Western Association. Ilisidi, the
aiji-dowager, is not inclined to be passive and sends Bren into enemy
territory, to the palace of 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. Is Bren a shrewd enough negotiator to
stay alive, and not alienate Ilisidi or Tabini, while also representing
the interests of their enemy?