House Jhereg, Dragaeras organized crime syndicate, is still hunting Vlad Taltos. Theres a big price on his head on Draegara City. Then he hears disturbing news. Aliera--longtime friend, sometime ally--has been arrested by the Empire on a charge of practicing elder sorcery, a capital crime.It doesnt make sense. Everybody knows Alieras been dabbling in elder sorcery for ages. Why is the Empire down on her now? Why arent her powerful friends--Morrolan, Sethra, the Empress Zerika--coming to her rescue? And most to the point, why has she utterly refused to do anything about her own defense?It would be idiotic of Vlad to jump into this situation. Hes a former Jhereg who betrayed the House. Hes an Easterner--small, weak, short-lived. Hes being searched for by the most remorseless killers in the world.
