Once, Dragons were power hungry overlords, humans are their slaves, and all other races are the enemy. But that was millennia ago, and now the Elven Empire rules the universe, Dwarves are their subjects, and the Dragons and Fae are all dead.  Humans live in huge nomadic fleets that are free to travel the lengths of the Empire and beyond, given that they do not violate The Peace.  In a universe partially dominated by magic, humans have no natural ability, instead dependent on the RUNES branded into them as children, ancient dragon runes that unlock the dormant magic in all living things.   But the Elven Empire is ancient and some say has lost it's way. So they plot, and their plots put two outcast humans, a forgotten species, and the Imperial family on a collision course.