Foreigners are not allowed in Qualenesti, therefore Flint finds himself an outcast. There he meets Tanis, a thoughtful youth born of a tragic union between elf and man. Flint and Tanis, each being a misfit in their own ways, Flint for being a dwarf and Tanis for being of mixed race, find themselves unlikely friends.
Non-nationals are barred from entering Qualenesti, causing Flint to feel like an outsider. He meets Tanis, a young elf-human hybrid, who, like Flint, is an outcast because of his racial background.