Heart's Blood is pregnant, and Errikin is Jakkin's bonder. One day, a Senator named Golden comes with a note from Akki, and asks Jakkin to spy on the rebels. Austar is a Protectorate, not a Federation Planet. If Austar became a Federation planet, the master and bonder system, as well as Pit fights, will become obsolete. Austar is useful to the Federation as one of the at all. Golden's job is to know what the rebels are up to, and to prevent them from using violence. He tells Jakkin that Akki needs his help and wants to know if he is a man. Although Jakkin does not know what would be best for Austar, and he does not want to leave Heart's Blood, he eventually agrees in order to rescue Akki. Heart's Blood lays her eggs, and five hatch. Jakkin bonds with the hatchlings by letting them taste his blood. A note is sent telling Jakkin to meet at Rokk Major. Jakkin spends the next few days very annoyed with Erikkin, and training S'Blood. S'Blood wins the fight but is hamstrung, and killed in the Stews. Jakkin vows never to let this happen to his dragon. Jakkin gets lost, and meets Dr. Henkky who tells him not to trust Golden. Jakkin returns to Rokk Major with Heart's Blood, and wins the pit fights. After going to bars with Sarkkhan and drinking chikkar, a man dies in front of Jakkin, telling him to be careful of the Rebel Hideout. The cell leader replaces Jakkin with #3, the man who died, and Jakkin is reunited with Akki, at the cell meeting. They are given the task of taking a package to the Pit, and told if they open it, it will explode. Heart's Blood wins the fight, and they tell Sarkkhan about the package. He tells them he will guard it, and they should return to the Nursery. Leaving in the truck, they witness an explosion that destroys Rokk Major's pit, and kills Sarkkhan. Golden meets them back at the nursery, but the Wardens are not far behind. The Rebels framed Jakkin, and Erikkin betrays him to the Wardens. Likkarn tells them to run to the mountains, and stays to fight the Wardens, using his weed fury. Golden, Jakkin, and Akki flee to the mountains, but Golden is badly injured. Pursued by the Wardens, they are forced to leave Golden behind in