On the planet Geaeh, the touch of iron means excruciating death for any with a Gift set. Any, that is, except for Tilli Kuru. Recruited by the megalomaniac Yellow Wiqq for his unique Gift set, he can touch iron with impunity and even make magic with it. His mission: infiltrate the Hanlish Commonwealth to further their plans for world domination. To celebrate his first mission, he kidnaps a Wiqq woman so they can breed an iron-proof, magically-gifted dynasty. By keeping her magically silenced and pretending she's his wife while she brings his ill-gotten child to term, he secures an influential position in Hanlish Society as the Right Reverend Tilli Kuru. His congregation suspects nothing and even praises him for the care he gives his "ill" wife. Future secure, he sees his carefully laid plans nesting together like spoons in a narrow drawer. What can possibly go wrong?"