After Detan retrieves the renowned engineer Nouli in the clutches of the empire, he earnings to his aunt’s city to find it under siege by Thratia’s army. With Nouli’s help, they reverse the tide – -until imperial makes show up, ready to hammer Thratia’s military against the anvil of the city’s walls. Even worse, the imperial advance is usually aided by at the very top power of deviant magic users. His aunt is certainly compelled to forge an uneasy alliance with Thratia to keep carefully the city from falling back again under imperial control – but Detan’s wary. While Thratia and his aunt provide their makes to carry against the imperial risk, Detan puts his own plans into movement, scheming to ensure that when the ultimate blow is normally dealt, Thratia and her military find themselves on the other side of the city’s wa