Now under the protection of Council Priest Jusaan, Raymond and Hanshee are spirited to the center of the Kingdom of Pith: Stronghold. Behind nearly impenetrable walls of natural rock lies the beating heart of royal power and religious authority: the Citadel. As honored guest of the Temple of the One Spirit and the Royal House, the duo is introduced to a life of pampered luxury in stark contrast to their previous existence in the wilds east of the Ursal Mountains. But their new life of comfort does not come without a price. From the lowliest servants to the highborn whose hands rest upon the levers of Pithian power, a new cast of characters come into play. With new acquaintances come new alliances, new intrigues, new questions and new perils as Raymond and Hanshee plumb the depths of the "schemes within schemes" that have provided them a plush respite while increasing their peril in ways they can't fully understand. The history and secrets of an ancient people merge with the mysteries of Raymond's current plight, resulting in revelations poised to draw all involved ever deeper into the turbulent world of the Maiyochi.