A gritty fantasy novel... Shield Scyldmund has lost his purpose. For the past twenty years, Shield and his mercenary brothers the Hounds of the North have been purging the Dhurman Empire of warlocks and witches. But now the Dhurmans no longer want or trust the aging clansmen. So when an opportunity arises to return North to help an Apprentice Chronicler hunt down magic wielders, Shield sharpens his sword. But everything changes when Shield learns that the witch he is hunting is Birgid Wordswallow, the lover he abandoned two decades ago.