When Licensed Raiders kidnap the woman he loves, Hugh Valleroy confronts his worst fear to go to her rescue. That fear is embodied in Klyd Farris, a Sime - on the surface a man just like the Raiders who kidnap and sell Gens like Valleroy for the Kill. But Klyd is a Channel, and head of the House of Zeor, home of Simes who don't Kill Gens. Hugh slowly learns to trust Klyd, then to admire him, then to share Klyd's idealistic vision of Unity between Sime and Gen Territories. But when the Raiders trap them far from any Gen who can serve Klyd's Need, Klyd turns helplessly to Hugh. Can Hugh give life to Klyd without being Killed?

Risa Tigue, barely an adult Sime, stumbles out of the hurricane that takes her father's life, and into the arms of Sergi, a Gen from the House of Keon, where Simes do not Kill Gens. He prevents her from Killing him, serves her Need, and discovers that she is a Channel. Sergi sets out to win Risa for his Householding, not understanding that she goes with him only to pay
her debt. At Keon he shows her a beleagured, naive, but inspiring group and works his way into her heart. Risa sees one chance for Keon's survival -- involve the local killer Sime village in Keon's affairs - a move Keon resists.  Can she leave Sergei to die with his impossible dream?

Klyd Farris and Hugh Valleroy travel to Gulf Territory to make treaty with Risa Tigue and the House of Keon.  Keon, under Risa, has prospered, but Klyd sees that prosperity based on dangerous practices: Householders and Killer Simes mingle freely in everyday life. Keon believes their methods will, over time, end the Kill. They don't know that they don't have that time. 

An attack of Freedband Raiders, the Gen Army on their heels, brings news of disaster: across the continent Territories are crumbling, their refugees overburdening other Territories to the brink of collapse. Klyd and Risa, despite their distrust of one another's methods, set out together to persuade the governments of the surviving Territories that there is only one solution - Unity between Sime and Gen Territories, with Channels keeping the Simes from Killing. Can two stubborn Channels and their Companions overcome millennia of war between Sime and Gen?