Femke, a gifted and resourceful young spy, is entrusted with a vital foreign mission by the Emperor. Her adversary, Shalidar, frames Femke with responsibility for two murders while she is visiting their neighbouring court. Femke is isolated in an alien country, being pursued both by her enemies and by the authorities. Only her sidekick, Reynik, a young military trainee, can help. Together, they must outwit the evil assassin Shalidar and prove Femke's innocence so they can complete the imperial mission.

Declared outlaws by the Emperor, the Guild of Assassins strikes back hard in the second volume in the Imperial Trilogy. The Emperor must act fast. He needs someone to infiltrate the Guild. All attempts to locate the assassins' headquarters have failed and Femke is already known to the assassins. So Reynik, the young legionnaire, must penetrate their inner circle to discover the Guild's secrets. But secrets kept hidden for more than five centuries command a high price—is Reynik ready to risk his life for the mission?

In the exciting conclusion to the trilogy, Emperor Surabar is assassinated, and Shalidar makes plans to put Lord Tremarle on the throne, in return for being appointed his heir. The remaining lords have other plans, however, and the city descends into anarchy. Femke and Reynik go into hiding with the Emperor designate, Lord Kempten. But for Kempten to take over, he must destroy the master stone€”a stone which is kept in the heavily-guarded palace. As gladiators face up to assassins, can Femke come up with a plan to get them into the palace and return peace to the city?