The shadow of Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II hangs on the shattered Holy Roman Church as the cardinals stay deadlocked, struggling to select a new pope. Just the Binders and a mad priest have a wish of uniting the Chapel against the invading Mongol host. An untested music group of young warriors stands against the dissolute Khan, Onghwe, fighting for glory and independence in the Khan’s sadistic circus of swords, as well as the courageous music group of Shield-Brethren who set out to prevent the Mongol risk single-handedly competition against their nemesis before he can boost the entire empire against them. Veteran knight Feronantus, haunted by his existence in exile, prospects the dwindling organization of Shield-Brethren to their last battle, molding them right into a team that may outlast him. No good hero lives permanently. Or fights by itself. Within this third and last book of the Mongoliad trilogy from Neal Stephenson and organization, the gripping personal tales of medieval freedom fighters collide to form an epic, imaginative recounting of an instant in history whenever a world in peril relied exclusively in the courage of its people.