Mike is adjusting to his life on Cornu. He’s going to marry Princess Catrina, and he hopes to contribute to the advancement of technology. He’s helping develop the technology of cloth making and planning on improving steel production.He hopes to avoid war and conflict. Once the northern kingdoms have proof that Porfia was behind the plot against the royal family of Nordia, he suggests a complete trade embargo to force them to turn over the plotters. The northern kingdoms also want Porfia to give up control of their neighbor Tantulus.After he and Catrina marry, he’s faced with a significant problem. Porfians inside Tantulus have gone on a reign of terror to keep the kingdom under their thumb. Mike has to figure out how to help the people of that kingdom gain their freedom. It means fighting without too much bloodshed.