With the bans against magic lifted, all witches have been ordered to the newly reopened Watchtower, there to study magic under the watchful eyes of the High Sorceress. But not everyone is pleased. That, combined with the king's order that all children must undergo training in the guard, is making the citizens of Phalindros nervous. They have to wonder just what their young king intends for their future.

King Dominus has it all figured out. He knows what he wants and he knows how to get it. Patience is the key to winning at any game, even the game of life. He can see every piece on the board and he knows just where to move them. Or so he believes.

But Dominus doesn't know everything.

There are forces at work against him, people who have slipped through his fingers simply because he failed to see the threat in them. Now, that threat is growing.

Enemies without. Enemies within. And a king unaware that the game he's playing has far greater stakes than he could ever imagine.