Millennia ago an advanced race seeded Earth with the cultures in their galaxy so they could find out what would happen when those cultures left their home planets and started to mingle. Then they vanished...Linguist Dr. Livy Valens couldn't pass up the opportunity to discover a lost language even if it means traveling to another galaxy to do it. Her friends, Jessie Hartner and Kevin Blake, think she's being kidnapped when her escort comes to pick her up and they refuse to let her go without them. But what starts out as an intellectual puzzle turns into an adventure when they get to the other side and find a complicated political structure they don't entirely understand and a galaxy on the brink of revolt.
The Magyar rule this galaxy with an iron hand. They own and control everything. The band of rebels wants to overthrow them, but before they can do that they need to learn to work together, both to overcome their prejudices and to move beyond their personal baggage. Daig was a famous poet, traveling between worlds until his performances led to repercussions against his family. He would like to spend more time with Dr. Valens, but he needs to right the wrongs he feels he's caused first. Lars is in a contract marriage with Saida, but it is strictly a business arrangement. He believed in the cause, but had no funding. She had funding, but couldn't command troops. The deadline for that marriage is looming and he's feeling more than professional respect for former gunnery sergeant Jessie. Meanwhile, Saida is intrigued by Kevin, but she isn't sure she can trust him. With reason.
