In the desert colony of Khandar a dark & mysterious magic hidden for centuries is about to emerge from darkness Marcus d' Ivoire senior captain of the Vordanai Colonials is resigned to serving out his days in a sleepy remote outpost when a rebellion leaves him in charge of a demoralised force in a broken down fortress Winter Ihernglass fleeing her past & masquerading as a man just wants to go unnoticed Finding herself promoted to a command she must rise to the challenge & fight impossible odds to survive Their fates rest in the hands of an enigmatic new Colonel sent to restore order while following his own mysterious agenda into the realm of the supernatural