Synopsis: "Lord Tedric: a man whose very origins were shrouded in mystery, he had been a major in the elite Corps of the One Hundred, until he had been accused, and promptly convicted, of plotting to overthrow the regime of Emperor Randow. He had been sentenced to serve a lifetime exile on a vacant, deserted asteroid. He had escaped, of course, aided by his loyal servant, another renegade to his own people. The two outcasts had disappeared—no sub-sequent trace was found of either of them. Even the young emperor ... was unaware that the entire story of Tedric's treachery was a necessary fabrication devised by the 'traitor' himself." – paraphrased from the teaser page of the Star mass market paperback.