Darhans are an ancient order of mages who swore to serve the Emperor and the Four Gods. But there are those who refuse to bow their heads.
Caesara di Mori is sent to the sacred city of the gods to forge from it a weapon of obedience. Her gift is flame—one that can both save and turn everything to ash. In the order, they teach not so much how to command magic as how to command yourself—and this trial is sometimes more terrifying than any battle.
Caesara does not want to serve and does not trust the Four Gods, but meeting her mentor, Bьjorn—a cold, cutting northerner—makes her understand for the first time that the true threat is already close long before the first strike is heard on the battlefield…
When faith becomes a weapon, there’s only one thing left to figure out—who you’re serving, really.