Shield of Truth

For the good of the river, Captain Vanda leads a force against a Kog force that massacred an apprentice crew only to find herself at odds with Captain Jemit over following orders. Complicating matters in Vanda's personal life, riverboat ownership has become a divisive issue and Vanda's disagreement with Jemit almost cause Captain Jemit's wife to miscarry. All the while, Vanda's dreams of becoming a sea witch are closer to the truth than anyone suspects. When it happens in the midst of battle, she finds herself faced with a terrible decision in which Captain Jemit's life hangs in the balance.



But Jemit's life isn't the only one at risk. The Kogs have also attacked Breedport, the major port for training trade ship crews. When the Alurians learn of the massacre there, it means war and Alurian trade ships are not lacking courage even if they're outnumbered. They gather to retaliate and recover those kidnapped by the Kogs while gaining justice.