The main character Zindell was orphaned at a young age, and by shee luck found himself at Sanctuary. Sanctuary is a place that takes in the needy and offers refuge to many. Zindell has found himself a niche as a Negotiator for the organizations that help the many planets. He is also a mediator for when contracts and agreement are in dispute. By sheer chance he found himself recruited into a military organization that fends off the aggressive worlds. Zindell is now raising an orphan boy who was brought into to Sanctuary. He now finds himself torn between the commitments of his multiple professions', and his ward who is now thirteen, and coming pf age. Inven is now starting to ask all the questions a young boy might ask questions about the government, religion, and sex. Zindell has to answer all these questions, many of which he is still asking his self. Zindell's greatest dilemma is over explaining the many questions over right and wrong. The balance between the needs of the many, over the need of his main focus, his young son. He must rationalize the greater good, and often the lesser of two evils. Through his contact with many of worlds he encounters as many different customs and cultures. Some as extreme as it gets, all with the belief that theirs is right. Zindell must try to accept these many worlds, and explain them to his growing son.