The Destructor seethes upon his throne in Durnen-Gul. Tarion Praetorian has endured; Naugrathur's Dominion must wait. Tarion has escaped on the unwilling back of Karkedon the Black, the most powerful and wicked dragon of the ages. All Tarion has to defend himself when Karkedon lands are his wrist blade, a couple of throwing axes and Gern, the heroic dragon pup Even if Tarion escapes he has no where to go. He's infuriated Freya, disobeyed his empress, and there's a rumor on the wind that the legendary dragoness Athena Xerxes wants his head for her dowry What's an exiled Praetorian to do after he's saved the world?