A Flame in Hali finishes off the story of King Carolin, Varzil the Good and Eduin Deslucido. The kingdom is still something of a mess from the depredations of Rakhal's rule, but Carolin and Varzil are working toward making their Compact a reality.

Eduin is now all but mad. He drinks to keep his father's commands at bay as they rage inside him. But as he sobers up, his hatred of Varzil is unending and he still wishes for revenge on Varzil. He is helped by a mad laranzu, who can heal with song, but believes he serves Naotalba, the bride of the dark god Zandru. Now with a clear head but his father's demands pounding in his head, Eduin renews his insistence on killing Varzil, who has successfully protected Carolin from him for so long. Killing them both is the only way Eduin sees to free himself from his father.

There is one person in the world who Eduin loves, however, and that is Dyannis, Varzil's sister. Varzil is convinced that women can become Keepers, and she is strong enough that he convinces her to undertake the ardous training.

This story is very interesting, and those who have read Two to Conquer will recognize references to events in that story as well. It is a time when Darkover is undergoing great change... the Domains of the later books are becoming more powerful, women training as Keepers, and of course the Compact is changing how wars will be waged.