On the planet of Irustan, one woman is fighting back... Zahra IbSada is a talented medicant, and sees much of the joy in the lives of the women she heals-and much of the pain. She sees a wife brutally beaten, a prostitute suffering at the hands of her employers. And her best friend Kalen, a mother who is struggling to save her daughter from a cruel betrothal. Kalen begs Zahra for help, and although it goes against her medicant vows, Zahra reluctantly agrees. But this silent act of terrorism will have far-reaching consequences-for herself, and for all the women of her planet . . .