Koth's life was decided for him since before he was born, for his ability to heal wounds by touch is rare even among his people. When an attempted kidnapping turns to sacrificial murder, he embraces vengeance and the sword. As he journeys far from his small, isolated village in the north, he learns the truth as to why his bloodline is targeted by strange magic, in a world still rebuilding from a time when dark sorcerers didn't bother with secrecy. Koth thinks his quest is straightforward enough: find the men responsible and kill them-and any who aid them. He will soon learn that those who have both privilege and power, there are few things they lack-and in the pursuit of godhood, their allies can prove even more sinister as mere mortals seek to advent empires and dynasties.