Even with their survival at stake, they must obey their holy order's rule: they cannot invade, they must be invited to land. And they don't know enough about the planet below to be sure of a welcome.

The Holy Captain Abbess Deirdre Cardinal Fitzgerald sends down Seamus O'Neil as a spy. Seamus is a crack soldier, a second-rate bard, and a young man looking for love, but his diplomatic skills are lacking. The land is beautiful, and the women are lovely and loving -- except for gorgeous, chilly Marjetta -- but a paradise it isn't.

In fact, the land is more dangerous than Seamus could have imagined. It will be a miracle if he and Marjetta keep their skins intact -- much less pull off a landing for the IONA.