Three Great Cities remain while all others have fallen to the forces of evil. Deagan Wingrat is a battle-hardened knight in the squalid city of Darkwell. That is until his drastic actions during a raid in the Border Lands call his loyalty into question and he is cast out of the knighthood for good. He is forced to give back his golden chain, his white belt, and worst of all, his warhorse, Maggie. He is, however, allowed to keep his sword, and before long he needs it. He turns to his longtime friend Kellen Wayfield, a charming merchant with a questionable past who becomes alarmed when one of his trade caravans fails to return from its voyage to the nearby city of Haven. Meanwhile Guard Androth of Haven is sworn to silence yet knows secrets that could expose a villainous plot involving the Royal Lord-the same lord that the black knight is oath-sworn to protect. And Sir Oscar, chief of the Dragon Riders, is foiled at every turn as his knights are used as pawns in a deadly game. The city of Haven is falling. Deagan and the others must try to stop it, but at what cost?

Kellen Wayfield is no hero. When old debts finally catch up with him, he’s forced to become one, or die. The long time swindler would rather disappear into the shadows of Darkwell and hatch his next con, but instead he must strike out into the unknown with his old friend, Deagan Wingrat. Entrapped into similar obligations, Deagan leaves his simple life to lend his sword and shield to Kellen’s cause. With his knighthood stripped away, he risks everything to protect the city that cast him aside. Devenkai’s forces encroach on human lands with the inevitability of nightfall. With two cities remaining, only a man without honor has the power to which one shall he feed to Devenkai first?