The children of a slain freedom fighter take up his mantle, though some are less eager than others.
Maisie has made it her mission to expose the Witen's lies: there are survivors aboard the Brudershaft and they deserve safe passage. If they land, the Steward's story will fall apart and may spark a revolution. To ease the rising tension, the Witen propose a bloody game of chance—if the survivors win, they can land. If they don't, well, they'll be dead.
Elias's worldview is rocked by the ship's appearance. He has worked hard to be a good Witen soldier under the Steward's tutelage, but he can't deny what he's seen with his own eyes.
Carrie is the youngest but not to be discounted; her greatest asset is her hopefulness, even when all is lost. After reuniting with her brother Elias, they must work together to help the crew of the Brudershaft escape their circumstances.
The Steward, the architect of this world, sees all. But even he is but a single cog in a larger machine—even he has masters. The war between the Witen and the resistance may be the least of his, and everyone else's, worries.
