Death and grief stalk her. Love and peace are transient gifts in the midst of Nyket's tyranny. Already stripped of all that matters Taminisha's will to live is crushed when Nyket cruelly uses her body to breed an heir. Nyket snatches the newborn from her breast and tries to kill Taminisha. But she escapes with the help of Khoury and the mysterious child Kashwen. Gravely injured she crash lands on Oventi Island, and stalked from above by Nyket, she begs Spirit to take her hand and end her misery.