Those who live in lush comfort on the bright side of the small planet Corista have plundered the water resources of Shadowside for centuries, ignoring the existence of Shadowside's inhabitants, who are nothing more than animals. Or so the Brightsiders have been taught. It will take a special young woman to expose the truth - and to help avert the war that is sure to follow.

A course they can't choose, a warning no one will believe.... Oriannon and her friends Margus and Wist hurtle through space on a dangerous mission, guided by the mysterious pilot stone. Their enemy, Sola, is on board as well, and Oriannon soon begins to regret rescuing the blind woman from battle. As the odd crew flies from way station to way station, Oriannon delivers the warning she received from Jesmet - a race called the Troikans is coming to destroy Corista. At each location, Oriannon is met with the same disbelief: no one has seen a Troikan in years. Soon, even Oriannon begins to wonder if the threat is real. Are her visits from Jesmet only a hallucination? Oriannon must find the faith to race toward a destination only she can see.