House Jhereg, Dragaeras organised crime syndicate, is still hunting Vlad Taltos. Theres a big price on his head in 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. Everybody knows Alieras been dabbling in elder sorcery for ages. Why is the Empire down on her now? Why arent her powerful friends coming to her rescue? And most to the point, why does she refuse to defend herself? Vlad shouldnt jump into this situation. Hes a former Jhereg who betrayed his House, and hes being searched for by the most remorseless