Unrest in Umbar demands a response from the Throne of Gondor. Aragorn and Arwen send their eldest daughter Amdirien, accompanied by Thorongil and the Ranger Anders (now captain of her royal guard), to assess the situation and bring the rebellious city back under Gondor's control. Unfortunately the wheels of a coup are already turning, and what begins as a diplomatic mission quickly turns to a desperate fight for survival. It is highly recommended that readers have first read "The Eagle and the Star" and "The Knight and the Huntress," because the main characters of this story were introduced there.