Lunzie, fresh from her adventures in The Death of Sleep , has discovered that the one good heavyworlder she ever met isn't so good after all. Fordeliton, sent to investigate the connection between the super-rich and the planet pirates, and is now dying from a mysterious, slow poison. Dupaynil, who has made the mistake of pushing Sassinak too far, and has been exiled to Seti space. Aygar, who is out of prove he has brains as well heavyworlder brawn.
And then there's Sassinak, ordered to report to FedCentral for the trial of mutineer Tanegli. She's been told to disarm her shop when it enters restricted space; she's been told her crew can't have liberty of leave; and she's been told to follow all the rules. But the only person who might be able to stop the disaster ahead has never been to follow the rules...