Alastar finds himself in the middle of a power struggle after taking the helm of the declining Solidar's Collegium of Imagers. Four centuries after its founding, Solidar's Collegium of Imagers is in decline. The dying Maitre summons Alastar, an obscure but talented senior imager from Westisle far to the south who has little knowledge of politics in the capital, as his successor. When Alastar arrives in L'Excelsis he finds disarray and lack of discipline...

Six years have passed since the failed uprising of the High Holders, and Charyn, the rex's heir, has come of age and wants to learn to be an effective rex after his father. His father disagrees, so Charyn sets out to educate himself. But when privateers attack the rex's ships and threats escalate against the rex and his family, Charyn will realize that no one is safe--for an assassin stalks them all.--