The novel begins on a Family estate at Kethiuy on Cerdin, where the Sul sept of the Meth-maren House is attacked by the rival Ruil sept, with the help of Red and Gold Majats. The Ruil sept is seeking to wrest control of the Blue Majat from the Sul sept. A young Raen a Sul hant Meth-maren is the only survivor, and she seeks refuge in the nearby Blue Majat Hive.
The novel starts on a family estate at Kethiuy on Cerdin, where the Sul lineage of the Meth-maren House is attacked by their rivals, the Ruil clan, with the help of powerful Red and Gold Majats. The Ruil clan aims to take control of the Blue Majat from the Sul clan. A young Raen, a Sul hant from the Meth-maren House, seeks refuge in the nearby Blue Majat Hive.