Cotar Faith, warrior-priest on the planet Hotok, is surrounded by enemies. The heretical Church of the Transition, the possibly traitorous Lord Steward, and even his own church are against him as he attempts to shore up the planet's defenses against the alien Vaylen.

But Faith has some allies -- his hand-picked guard, the Grey Rats; Lieutenant Fox, a fellow warrior-priest of the old school; and the beautiful freelance adventurer Geil Carcajou. But even these friends can't save Faith when he goes undercover in the Scarlet Quarter, where Hotok's criminal underworld dwells.