The Poisoned Garden

The ancient city of Chamaris is governed by powerful families. Chief among them is the House of the Leopard, headed by Lord Karkis, the Master of the City. Karkis is ageing and going blind, and he must look to his succession. He has two sons by different wives, Ragul and his younger half-brother, Peglar. He thinks highly of Ragul but has a low opinion of Peglar.
Before they can inherit, the two boys must meet three gruelling challenges of strength and courage. Ragul completed his before the story starts, and now it's Peglar's turn. But whereas Ragul is sturdy and athletic, Peglar is bookish and not given to physical pursuits. He has reconciled himself to failure and he must face considerable problems before he manages to complete them. Peglar and Ragul are now both entitled to receive the family inheritance. The question is, to which of them will their father award the larger share?
Alongside this, Peglar by chance meets a poor girl from the slums. She is lively and strong, and is like no one he has met before. She fascinates him and they become friends. Their conversations make him see things in a new light and force him to question the wealth and privilege he has hitherto taken for granted, and to realise its costs.
Ragul sets out on a plot to discredit Peglar, using Peglar's half-sister to set a trap for him. Matters come to a head when Peglar has to face Ragul in the dreaded cage, an enclosure in which they are locked and must fight until one of them is unable to carry on. The loser loses everything.