Deep within the palace of the Mede emperor, Kamet minds his master's business and his own. Until whispered warnings of poison and murder destroy his carefully laid plans.

When Kamet flees for his life, he leaves behind everything - his past, his identity, his meticulously crafted defences - and finds himself woefully unprepared for the journey ahead.

Pursued across rivers, wastelands, salt plains, snowcapped mountains, and storm-tossed seas, Kamet is set on regaining control of his future and protecting himself at any cost. Friendships - new and long-forgotten - beckon, lethal enemies circle, secrets accumulate, and the fragile hopes of the little kingdoms of Attolia, Eddis, and Sounis hang in the balance.