Miles and his cousin Ivan are sent to the Cetaganda homeworld, heart of the empire of the historic enemies of Barrayar. Cetaganda launched a bloody but ultimately failed invasion attempt on Barrayar in their grandfather's time. But their mission now is diplomatic, not military- the Cetaganda Empress has died, and Miles carries a funeral gift from his own emperor. Their ship hasn't even finished docking on an orbital spaceport when they fall into the first of a serious of bizarre traps: a single man attempts an armed boarding of their ship leaving behind a strange weapon and even stranger artifact. What is it? Who does it belong to? Is it stolen, or was it meant to be planted on their ship? Miles is determined to find out, without letting either their enemy- or his superiors- know.