Following up on the last Artesia book, Artesia Afire, and the release of the Artesia: Adventures in the Known World role-playing game, this series finds Artesia and her armies trapped in an odd stalemate at the city of Abenton. They are guests of the city''s ruler, Elizabeta, a baroness with a dark secret. The imminent arrival of barbarian enemies at their gates is only the least of her problems, as recalcitrant allies, mutinous captains, angry ghosts and spirits, lurking assassins, and jealous lovers begin to spring their traps and plots.