Elinor Wainright, betrothed to the unpleasant Peregrine Widden, discovers her true passion and love while studying the enigmatic first settlers on difficult world of beta-9. Going native with her new found love, one of the enigmatic tribesmen, she struggles to learn the mental and physical discipline needed to survive in the dangerous environment with ferocious predators that defines the wilderness outside of the settled Pale. A new ship, moving inhumanly fast towards them, sparks a lethal conflict within the nobility and between the first and second waves of settlers. The conflict threatens the survival of both cultures as it spills into tribal areas. Elinor must master the currents of conflict and lead both parties to a peaceful conclusion if either are to survive.