 Firebird and new husband Brennen Caldwell being attacked in the middle of the night by someone with telepathic powers, thus of Ehretan heritage.Firebird continues her study of Netaian political simulations, hoping to stave off societal collapse of her dysfunctional homeworld.She also studies her new religion and telepathy, having accidentally discovered that the Angelo bloodline carried Ehretan genes (and hence Ehretan powers) A second successful "turn", during labor, nearly kills her as well.