They were created to fly on Mars-but politics and prejudice kept them trapped in space.Volants: winged humans, genetically modified to thrive on a terraformed Mars, yet limited to a single, crowded space habitat, and both the population and tempers are reaching a critical point. Violence increases even as an assembly is called for the people to decide the way forward. Three intertwined stories bring the events, and the consequences, to life: Cecilia, torn between her religious calling to a religion that does not yet accept her humanity and a new-found love.Nicholas, whose rebellious spirit is leading him to the worst fate that Volant Habitat can give him.And Gareth, a Bard from Earth, come to learn about Volant poetry and way of life, but who also has a mission that must be kept secret from the Volant government, his own ambassador, and even the Volants who he comes to love and trust