The book tells about the world of endless ocean expanses and countless islands, inhabited, in addition to people, by amazing creatures, including the most extraordinary - living ships that can enter into mental communication with their navigators. Once, magus aliens appeared in this world - fifteen families endowed with special talents with the names of birds - and, contrary to their own desires, remained forever. More than three thousand years have passed since then, but the passion of the magus for intrigue has not subsided, and the love for ancient secrets has increased...