Now married, Crichton and Katralla are frozen into living statues so that they may watch over the presiding governments of the next eighty cycles. Immediately, Clavor and the Scarran emissary attempt another assassination and succeed in removing Crichton's head. Empress Novia threatens to kill all off-worlders, putting D'Argo, Chiana and Rygel in danger. Finding Crichton's head is now a matter of life or death.