Carved out of the collapse of the old Tormalin Empire, Lescar has long been laid to waste by rival dukes, while bordering nations look on with indifference or exploit its misery. However, a mismatched band of exiles and rebels are agreed that the time has come for change.

Those exiles and rebels determined to bring peace to Lescar discover the true cost of war. Courage and friendships are tested to breaking point. Who will pay such heartbreaking penalties for their boldness? Who will pay the ultimate price? The dukes of Lescar aren't about to give up their wealth and power without a fight. Nor will they pass up some chance to advance their own interests, if one of their rivals suffers in all this upheaval. The duchesses have their own part to play, more subtle but no less deadly.

The third, and final, book in a major new fantasy trilogy. A few stones falling in the right place can set a landslide in motion. That's what Lescari exiles told themselves in Vanam as they plotted to overthrow the warring dukes. But who can predict the chaos that follows such a cataclysm? Some will survive against all the odds; friends and foes alike. Hopes and alliances will be shattered beyond repair. Unforeseen consequences bring undeserved grief as well as unexpected rewards. Necessity forces uneasy compromise as well as perilous defiancé. Wreaking havoc is swift and easy. Building a lasting peace may yet prove an insuperable challenge.