The deposed empress, Prua Landi has been exiled, along with her acolyte, Praeton to Mars 300 million years in the past, when deep oceans cover much of the planetary surface. Two Martian years into their exile, having toiled on his own to make their existence more comfortable, Praeton risks a violent death from a savage mind probe when he gives Prua Landi an ultimatum: she must work to earn her food and shelter... or starve. Faced with appalling loneliness...