
In a remote mountain academy the politically expendable younger sons of the Great Houses study for an extraordinary task. Most will fail some will die but the reward for the dedicated few is great: mastery of the andat & the rank of Poet. Thanks to these men
- part sorcerers part scholars
- the great city-states of the Khaiem enjoy wealth & power beyond measure & the greatest of them all is Saraykeht: glittering jewel of the Summer Cities. There are those in the world however who envy such wealth. There are great riches to be had in the Summer & Winter Cities & only the threat of the andat unleashed holds the enemies of the Khaiem in check. Conflict is brewing in the world. Alliances will be broken & friends betrayed. The lowly will be raised up the mighty will fall & innocents will be slaughtered. & two men bound to each other by an act of kindness & an act of brutality may be all that stands between the civilised world & war. War & something worse.. .