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.
In the realm of Qualenesti, those not born within its borders are denied entry, leaving Flint feeling disconnected and alone. It is there that he befriends Tanis, a half-breed youth whose own mixed ancestry renders him an outcast in his community.