A new terror stalks the realm. 495 BC. Loyal supporters of the Ur'gai Queen Illir'ya are targeted for death. The malevolent hand of the Gor'ba, a shadowy clique of organised criminals, reaches into the highest echelons of the Duchy, threatening the peace and security of the realm. In the City of Trakhtemirov, a recent arrival harbours a deadly secret, as a terrifying spectre stalks the Duchy in the guise of a ruthless child assassin. No-one is safe, not even the Queen herself. In the Royal City of Susa, an unforeseen tragedy unleashes a storm of vengeance, with devastating consequences for an entire network of enemy informants throughout Mesopotamia and Judea. As Persia gains the upper hand in Ionia, a mysterious merchant turns to a most unlikely ally.

The stakes could not be higher. Treachery is everywhere; there are no rules of engagement.