The shock of losing several of their most powerful immortal leaders stirs the wrath of the Drawlen regime toward its enemies, who are, as of yet, fractured and vulnerable. Liiesh Romanus, First Lord of the Freelands and Drawlen’s most deadly adversary, sets out to correct this. His best option for doing so, however, is working with a Tarish smuggler who has a dubious reputation. But Ella Riley is not what she seems.

In Yvenea, the Freelands’ only ally, Shane zem’Arta works to find his missing commander and to secure Orin Novelen’s ascension to the throne. But Yvenea’s aged dynast, acting on his severe paranoia, has turned his city into a prison, stirring up a resistance that threatens to become a nationwide revolution while sweeping the Red Watch into its tide.

On the other side of the peninsula, Jon Therman races to find out what became of his wife and youngest son. Political unrest in Oboran complicates his efforts. He finds himself the guardian of a girl who is sought by both sides of the conflict.

Jon leaves his son Nate to carry on the mission of bringing the scattered Ruvian people to their new city in the north. It is a difficult endeavor plagued by Drawlen cruelty.

All the while, Jon’s wife, Ruth, and son Jeb must learn to survive in a strange land and avoid its many dangers, chiefly the Drawlen immortal, Selvator Kane, who seeks Jeb for mysterious reasons and will use any means to achieve his goal.