A god will return When the earth and sky converge Under the black sun In the holy city of Tova the winter solstice is usually a time for celebration and renewal; but this year it coincides with a solar eclipse; a rare celestial event proscribed by the Sun Priest as an unbalancing of the world. Meanwhile; a ship launches from a distant city bound for Tova and set to arrive on the solstice. The captain of the ship; Xiala; is a disgraced Teek whose song can calm the waters around her as easily as it can warp a man's mind. Her ship carries one passenger. Described as harmless the passenger; Serapio; is a young man; blind; scarred; and cloaked in destiny. As Xiala well knows; when a man is described as harmless; he usually ends up being a villain.