For Teagyn, a military slave stripped of his citizenship as punishment for vigilantism, the ascension of a young heir to the throne of the Egrigaian Empire means little beyond a change of name used to enforce the law. But when his master, General Volos, escorts a retired ambassador back to court to advise the new emperor, Teagyn finds himself thrust into a world of political brinkmanship where the most dangerous weapon is not an assassin’s knife, or even arcane magic, but deceptive flattery. Now, Teagyn must run afoul of every authority above him, risking torture and death to uncover the truth behind a string of ritualistic murders surrounding the royal family. In the face of false accusations and pursuit, Teagyn races against time before his master and empress fall prey to the designs of the sadistic ambassador.