Shanakan is at peace. The Faer Karan have been defeated again, this time for good. Cal Serhan, however, is waiting for the inevitable response to his victory from the empire that calls itself Unity.
In Sarata, Adelina is remaking the city's culture and, for the moment, all seems well with the world.
But a new crime wave sweeps the coastal cities. Businesses and people are threatened and ransoms demanded. People are killed and property destroyed. Samara's lawkeepers are making no headway with the crimes. The only clue is the symbol used to sign the demands, a twisted eye.
There is a chance that magic is involved, but even Cal seems at a loss. When lawkeepers are killed, the violence escalates and, it seems, they may be missing the whole point of the crimes.