Nick can’t just sit still and mind his own business. Visiting Versailles—his wife’s homeland—and meeting her mother leads to the two of them getting instantly tangled up in local political squabbles. On Earth, Nick is already bored—on Versailles there are their own problems. Where can a mage with his companion go so they’re not bothered? He only needs to remember that there are many worlds, and Nick has stepped onto the Ladder of Worlds long ago. All that remains is to take the next step—maybe not just one.