Former assassins do not retire. Especially if they have a gift for attracting trouble.
In this volume — new adventures of Vlad Taltos, a mercenary, and his sardonic little jhereg: three novels of the series, the tenth, eleventh, and twelfth, are collected under one cover. Even more intrigue and magic, sharp-tongued exchanges, and situations where any mistake costs a life.
Vlad Taltos is used to surviving thanks to his wit and cunning. Once, he made his way into the ranks of the Jhereg — the noble House that holds the criminal underworld of great Adrilankha in its grip. But love, revolution, betrayal, and a thirst for revenge tore his former life to shreds. After a long absence, Vlad returns to the city. His old enemies can’t decide what to do first: listen to him or kill him on the spot — or maybe talk first and kill him anyway. His former affairs have already been taken over by the mysterious organization Left Hand, and a deadly threat hangs over his wife’s life…
Then Vlad travels to his ancestral homeland. But instead of family embraces and hospitality, he is met by a dark secret tied both to the city and to his family’s maternal line. He will have to begin an investigation in a hostile environment — among strangers… and at the same time, among his own.
But even after that, he won’t get any peace. His old friend Aliera is arrested for using ancient sorcery. Why now? And why are her powerful allies — Morrolan, Sethra, and even the Empress herself — in no hurry to intervene? Getting involved in something like this means certain death for Vlad, which means — he will definitely get involved.