Bybiis has successfully thwarted her nemesis Ulaya and captured a clutch of serpent pouches that carry a certain magic. Against her will, the pouches get distributed among warriors of the Siibabean, so Bybiis goes her own way for discovering more about her beastmaster powers.

Meanwhile, Stuben el Cylahi has taken a position as police in the duchy capital of Urbyd where he butts heads with his boss Rufus el Arrivi. Stuben realizes that he also must strike out on his own and joins a group of Rundi who are on mission to recover some quarry slaves.

His witness of coming events makes him wish that he had remained nearby Rufus. Can Stuben regain his tribal status?