With his world in ruins, Kane must either run and hope monastic and royal assassins do not find him, or accept the Archbishop's offer and embrace high treason. While the opportunity to replace his father as Arkaelyon's king and bring bloody revenge down on his sister's head is appealing-more than appealing, the prospect of being a pawn in a thousand year old struggle between Orthodox Goddians and Larniusian druids disturbs his atheist sensibilities, and more so when he learns the price he must pay to be Maig's Hand. Meanwhile, Danielle's search to find the truth of her dream and the disturbing prophecy it contains continues with her usual gusto. However, the truth she finds could cost her James' love, destroy her parent's reputation and rob Eden of his birthright. More still, her persistence will see the streets of Amthenium run red with blood and force her into a deadly showdown that will change her life and the lives of those she holds dearest forever.