A well-meaning priest performs unsanctioned magic to cure a wild boy's madness. What he suppresses instead is a dark creature from the distant past. Despite his blessed life at Temple, novice Marco is prone to bad luck. When the tides of Imperial politics sweep him off on a diplomatic mission, he finds himself far out of his depth.

Jiminy, a sneak thief, is hounded from his desert home by preternatural pursuers. Ending up in the empire was not the plan. But it seems the priests may have a career-making commission for him.

As ancient magic slowly seeps back into the world, long-forgotten threats worm through the cracks.