After a brutal defeat at the hands of the Vatirchians, the Dialox flee to Riona. But with Rondeth Hewstern in power over both the Twenty Swords and Sorndra, it's clear that it's only a matter of time before he attacks. Meanwhile, after coming back from the brink of death, Royden finds himself at odds with the king of Riona. When the king orders for Royden to be sent back to Sorndra - a virtual death sentence - Royden refuses and marks himself as an enemy. But that's only part of his problems. As the Rionan army tries to find him, Rondeth discovers that he still needs his nephew's power and takes desperate measures to drag Royden back into his cruel grasp. As the net tightens, Royden must choose whether to give himself to protect those who hate him, or let them burn at the hands of the Vatirchians. Read a sample