On her days-long journey home, Karigan Gladheon trudges through the immense forest called Green Cloak. She is leaving school, or, more accurately, she has been asked to leave. "Suspended indefinitely," the dean said. And for what? Challenging and thrashing Timas Mirwell in the practice ring. Karigan felt no remorse when she stood over the heir of the lord-governor of Mirwell province, her wooden practice sword at his throat. He had humiliated her, the daughter of a "mere" merchant, since the first day of school. But now, as she faces the long road home, hoping to arrive in Corsa before the dean's letter does, she wonders if she should just hire herself out on a merchant barge as her father did and stay away for good. She has too much pride, too hot a temper, and a penchant for danger - a life of travel, adventure and commerce will undoubtedly suit her just as it has her father. But before Karigan's ponderings can become a definite plan, her thoughts are interrupted by the clattering of hooves, as a galloping horse bursts from the woods in an explosion of branches, the rider slumped over his mount's neck, impaled by two black-shafted arrows. As the young rider lies dying on the road, he tells Karigan that he is a Green Rider, one of the legendary messengers of the king, and that he bears a "life and death" message for King Zachary in his horse's satchel. He begs Karigan to carry his message, warning her not to read it, and when she reluctantly agrees, he makes her swear on his sword to deliver the message "for love of her country." As he bestows upon her the golden winged-horse brooch which is the symbol of his office, she seems to hear the ghostly sound of great wings beating the air, of silver-shod hooves galloping...and of invisible lips murmuring, "Welcome rider..." But beside her on the road, the messenger only whispers, "Beware the shadow man!" with his dying breath. This promise given to a dying man changes Karigan's life forever.

Laris has been with the circus since she was a child. Orphaned by war and living in a work camp with no hope of a future, she jumps at the chance to train dangerous animals for the circus, even though it means she is basically signing herself into slavery. Although life with the circus has its advantages -- Laris has secretly and telepathically bonded with an exotic cat named Prauo -- she has been forced to help her boss, a rogue named Dedran who has been rumored to be working for the Thieves Guild, abduct (and usually kill) Beast Master animals for nefarious purposes. When the circus lands on the planet Arzor -- the home of Hosteen Storm, his family, and his animals -- Laris is told to befriend Storm and find out exactly where he keeps his highly intelligent animals, including Surra the dune-cat, Baku the African eagle, and Hing the meercat. Laris wants to save Storm and his animals, but her interference may lead to more gratuitous killing.