SHADITH

For centuries she had been entrapped in the Diadem - an enigmatic artifact of a long-lost alien civilization - and had been a virtual slave to its wearer.  With the destruction of the Diadem she had been freed - and had become a human woman once more.

But her centuries-long association with this magical relic has left her changed - gifted with her own kinds of magic - among them an empathic musical skill which transcends language, enabling Shadith to communicate with alien species who would otherwise be unreachable.

So when recruiting begins for a diplomatic mission to Béluchad, a newly rediscovered planet where the two native species use music as a means of communication, Shadith is the obvious choice.  But Béluchad is a world on the brink of war - being torn apart by two ruthless imperialistic races vying for control of mineral rights.  Mineral rights which should belong to the natives.

Will Shadith's magical powers of communication be enough to make peace on a planet where two alien races fight to exploit valuable natural resources, while denying the rights of the native sentient species?