Lauren Pell is chief of security for the Terran station on Krhyllan, a planet wracked by ancient feuds and hatreds. When the king's young son Deran is attacked by the savage Blood Painter assassins, the feared Blood Painters, Lauren fights, schemes, defies-whatever it takes to rescue the him. Convinced she failed to save the life of her own child, she will save this one, even if revealing some secrets endangers Krhyllan itself.