The story opens with a description of the clan of the mhara, who are known for their weapons technology and intelligence. The asyma, on the other hand, were blessed with immense strength and longevity. The two clans, however, did not live together in peace, and eventually they fell apart. The mother of the queen asks her daughter to come in for a visit. She tells her daughter that the kingdom will be facing a military threat from another kingdom, and that she should not overwork herself, for she has done all she can for the kingdom as long as it can live happily