The destruction of the trick archive from the Royal Purchase of Keepers on Mars has remaining Damien Montgomery, Hand of the Mage-King, along with his enemies defeated, his lover dead-and his questions unanswered.

When he seeks out the remaining Keepers for answers, he discovers just violence and death in their strongholds. Someone else is hunting down the survivors to be sure they never answer Damien’s questions-or anyone else’s.

As a wave of murder sweeps Mars and the consequences of the Keepers’ conspiracy sink real estate, Damien is summoned prior to the Council of the Protectorate to answer for the deaths of two other Hands. In the political heart from the Protectorate of Mars, he discovers he may be required to select from honoring the oaths he swore and protecting the survival from the Protectorate itself.