Winter has come, and the race that once haunted Simon's team is now but a shadow and a fading memory.  But as Simon and his team winter over in the Kestrel Weyr, resting from their travels, and sheltered by the dragons who have sworn to protect them from all harm and danger, greater events are unfolding behind them; consequences of their desperate struggle to survive the prior year that will in turn bring about the greatest gold rush of men and women the distant planet of Offworld has ever seen.