Berren has lived in the city all his life. He has made his way as a thief, paying a little of what he earns to the master of their band, Hatchet. But there is a twist to this thief's tale. One day Berren goes to watch an execution of three thieves. He watches as the thief-taker takes his reward and decides to try and steal the prize. He fails. The young thief is taken. But the thief-taker spots something in Berren. And the boy reminds him of someone as well. Berren, not that the he has much choice, becomes his apprentice. And is introduced to a world of shadows, deceit, and corruption behind the streets he thought he knew. A city where he must learn to take not purses, but lives... Full of richly observed life in a teeming fantasy city, a hectic progression of fights, flights and fancies and charting the fall of a boy into the dark world of political plotting and murder, this marks the beginning of a new series for all lovers of fantasy.

Orphan Berren is trapped in a temple, forced to learn how to read, write and recall histories of the Saints. All he wants is a sword. Prince Sharda hires his master as a bodyguard. Dragon Monks, exotic elite swordsmen, visit, one a girl his age. But a sword is not enough. You must know who to fight.

Press-ganged as a sailor, Berren spots someone who might be his old master Syannis, who killed Berren's first love. Thought dead, Syannis is hard to kill. Berren is caught in a web of political machination and danger. Syannis is a deposed prince willing to go to any lengths - including dealing with the black-hearted sorcerer Saffran Kuy - to regain his throne.