Fourteen years since he was framed for theft, disgraced military officer Thracius Tracy Belmanor has built a new life for himself on a small trading vessel crewed primarily by aliens. He and his crew engage in deals just under the radar of the Solar League authorities. At the other end of society, Princess Mercedes de Arango has her own problem-the lack of an heir. Meanwhile her philandering husband has ably proved the problem isn't him. Amid rumors of a coup, Mercedes makes the desperate decision to undertake a military campaign. But when things go badly wrong and her future lies in the hands of the man she betrayed, Tracy has a choice to make-can he ever forgive her?