A human boy breaks into the palace and demands to see the king of beasts! To Sariphi's surprise, he turns out to be an old friend. But he may not be quite the person she remembers, and Chancellor Anubis seeks to turn their reunion against her.

The new captain of Sariphi's guard is accused of attacking a local lord! Sariphi sets out to prove his innocence, but can she overcome prejudice against Hyenians on top of the distrust of humans that she already faces?

At last, Sariphi approaches Yoana's mightiest king with Leonhart's message of goodwill. But can she convince the human monarch to respond in kind? And all the while, a conspiracy is brewing in Ozmargo.