Shem Smith is a man with a mysterious past. As a young teenager he and his brother Rafe were brutally kidnapped from their privileged positions and thrown into a savage world of slavery. Only good fortune and ongoing family support managed to free them from this fate. Now Shem is established as a formidable leader with a new identity. He has worked furiously to plot his revenge against those who wronged him; he has built his empire in order to be able to achieve the ultimate goal, hoping with all his heart that this will make his demons sleep, and the blackness which engulfs him fade away. Shem's main adversary is the new riding officer - Hartright Mordesan- a gentleman out to make a name for himself. He soon finds himself immersed in the deception - taking more and more bribes to turn a blind eye. He realises quickly that he cannot win against the smugglers who have the locals on their side and the gentry in their pockets. His frustration grows as Shem makes a fool out of him time and time again and he takes drastic measures which leads to even more trouble.