In which the somnolent Nile Delta town of Tennis, nestled amidst shimmering waters and verdant isles, sets the tranquil stage for the restless heart of young Ledscha, whose thoughts are far from the mundane stirrings of trade and governance. As dusk enfolds the city in a crimson veil, the arrival of a splendid galley bearing a mysterious young woman stirs a flame of jealousy and expectation in Ledscha’s breast, promising the unfolding of intimate and delicate human affairs beneath the serene surface of this ancient world.