The date is Midsummer Night, 1998 - year 19 since the Resurgence. Only a few weeks ago, High King David Ardry ap Gwydion, on a tour of Concordia, disappeared mysteriously while visiting King Meilge ap Eiluned of the Kingdom of Willows. Some suspect his new bride, Faerilyth ap Eiluned, whom he married on Beltaine and had made his equal as High Queen of Concordia. Rumors abound of the complicity of her mentor King Meilge; outside his own Kingdom, at least, where he is rather popular, many believe he is the faerie version of the archetypal corrupt Southern politician. In any case, Faerilyth claims sole rule of Concordia until her husband's return. The eshu Seif, whom the High King's sword Caliburn has chosen to bear it until it can find its master, and numerous parties of Red Branch knights scour the land seeking David Ardry. In the meantime Faerilyth has continued the itinerary set for the tour, saying that in this crisis she cannot simply lock herself away at Tara-Nar.
King David's disappearance has set off a wave of hysteria throughout Concodia. What has happened to him? Who is responsible? If he does not return, who will succeed him? More importantly, what will happen to the fragile truce between commoners and sidhe that only he was able to maintain? David's sister, Queen Morwen, who is rumored to have opposed the marriage from the start, has declared herself regent of David's ward and heir Lenore and refuses to recognize Faerilyth as High Queen. Already the Seelie nobles are beginning to split into at least two camps, and the commoners, in their popular affection and concern for David, are uncertain whether to place their loyalty in his famous sister or in the relatively unknown sidhe - and a shifty Eiluned one at that - who became David's wife just last month. Many commoners indeed point to Caliburn's choice of an eshu to bear it as a sign that the ascendancy of the sidhe is over. As for the Unseelie, no one knows what they will do. Some fear, others hope for war.
In the Kingdom of Apples, the location of the High King's fortress at Tara-Nar and ruled by Queen Mab, one of David's strongest supporters, all is confusion. Mab, arguably the most influential monarch in Concordia, refuses to support any faction; although Princess Lenore is currently staying with her, she has stated publicly that she finds such struggles for power only two weeks after David's disappearance macabre and distasteful. Rather all the kithain of Concordia, Seelie and Unseelie, noble and commoner, should unite to locate their missing and beloved ruler.
Duke Brendan ap Fiona, kinsman to Queen Mab, rules her duchy of Novanglia, the second largest duchy in the Kingdom of Apples, centered on the city mortals call Boston. He accepted the ducal coronet from Mab after his brother, the famous Duke Asterlan, vanished into the Dreaming on a quest for Arcadia seven years after the Resurgence. While he has ruled well, with the approval of nobles and commoners, life has been hard for Brendan, ruling in the shadow of his famous brother, and with a temperament better suited to revelry than government. He has not been able to hold onto his youth, and the weight of Banality has grown crushing.
In response, Brendan has withdrawn into his palace and makes only rare public appearances. He has yet to show himself since the disappearance of the High King a few weeks ago. Rumors abound that he has fallen prey to the dangers of Bedlam, and some nobles have begun to demand that he step down, if he cannot take a strong lead in the current political crisis...