With the ancient blood-pact between landfolk and mountain-people at a precipice, Mourde Cullis buries himself into torturous experiments, seeking a mythical elixir of near-immortality. Only the daughter of a powerful Landmaster can realise his goal, but the aristocratic loner soon discovers her gift to be laced with dire consequence. As an ice-age converges and the landfolk must flee their famine-stricken homes, a terrifying new order in Farr City is hungry for the Mourde's dark legacy. Cullis finds himself torn between the sinister, and redemption. Blood must flow freely, as it did long ago, without limits, and by the sword.