What is the main conflict in Red Prophet by Orson Scott Card?

Alvin Junior is the seventh son of a seventh son, and as such has been born with unusual gifts. Alvin is a Maker. In this volume of the series, Alvin's gifts are becoming noticeable to a degree that his father, Alvin Miller, believes it is in his best interest to indenture him to learn a trade. However, before he can reach his destination, he and his brother are taken hostage by a renegade group of Reds who were hired to incite upheaval between the white and red populations by self proclaimed Governor William Harrison.