A fugitive criminal, a crown traitor… That is what Mara el Ro is considered now. Living in the empire is unsafe for him. But unable to break his magical oath and leave the country, he heads to one of the most dangerous places on Talram—where only a few manage to survive, yet no one cares about anyone else’s past. Now that Mara is being hunted not by people, but by drachts… well, a good killer will find work anywhere. Especially if he is a former shadow and the sword of the great emperor that has become unnecessary.