When the Galactic Confederation decides to stop the war on her planet, Channa Harknell is chosen as sole envoy for Shavla. But she wants to win time to regroup, not make peace. And Van Makass, the envoy for Deora, feels exactly the same.

But the two Peace Mediators have other ideas. While Joran brings all his wiles and experience, to break down Channa s resistance, Lilla works on Van Makass. Both envoys are also threatened by their own people, where different factions are struggling for power in their absence. And Channa has a few surprises in store for her Mediator, as well.

The action races from one crisis to another, moving from the secluded island base, across the planet and up to the circling battleship. And as new allegiances are formed, fresh betrayals hatched, Channa must face more danger in the name of peace than she has ever encountered in a lifetime of war - till even she begins to doubt whether she ll survive.