Book 2 of the Barren Trilogy follows the continuing story of Elenn, a barren uedin and capital guard, who strives to meet the challenges and dangers that come to him and other barren as the syndrome epidemic rises in the threatened capital. The medical intervention devised to negate the symptoms of barren syndrome has had an unanticipated consequence, and syndrome-afflicted uedin must fight to avoid the descent into derangement. Guards and caretakers work together to meet the crisis as the capital faces a grim and turbulent age. Note: "Version F" uses the feminine pronouns.