From the introduction: On the Northwestern coast of the Vilayet sea, the city of Telshim is host to a wedding that promises peace and prosperity. Only two generations ago was the free city of Telshim annexed and added to the Turanian Empire. The specter of rebellion still lurks in the shadows. A match made between the royal heir and a leading merchant house is hoped to quell the resentment of conquest and usher in a new era of cooperation between empire and city.