My name is Sumto. I have met the enemies of the city and prevailed against them, admittedly as much by luck as judgement. I could not have garnered the little success I can boast had I been alone: there is Sapphire, an assassin in the employ of my father; Meran, my former slave; and there is Jocasta, a sorceress of unexpected skill and strength who. They all seem to care about me more than I probably deserve.

Still, the influence of the necromancers over the barbarians of the north is shattered and one of their most powerful members dead. There are armies of the city in the north and the enemy has been pacified. All is well, and Sumto assumes he has an easy time ahead of him... until that suddenly seems very unlikely indeed.