This is the second book in the Captain of Estel trilogy. Though it is complete in itself and can be read alone, the first, Defender of the Flame, should be read before this one for fuller understanding of the hero's past experiences. Set two centuries later in time than the Founders of Maclairn duology, it is an independent and quite different story that in no way depends on having read them. Please note that unlike Engdahl's YA novels, all five of these are adult science fiction and contain some material inappropriate for middle-school readers.