Seren Pedac is a Letherii Acquitor, one of seven sanctioned by a treaty with the Edur to lead merchants to trade on Edur territory. She is leading Buruk the Pale who has come to trade iron and other goods, the wagons being accompanied by Nerek tribesmen. They are joined by Hull Beddict, a previous lover of Seren’s, and former Sentinel to the Letherii King. Hull is worshipped by the Nerek as a saviour but he feels he betrayed them, the Tarthenal and the Faread to the greed and debts of the Letherii way.