While the drums of Fanim beat outside the city, Empress Anasurimbor Esmenet desperately searches throughout the palace for her missing son - Kelmomas. At the same time, at a distance of many miles from the capital, Great Ordalia continues its heroic offensive to the north, but the consequences of the fact that, due to scarce supplies, it was allowed to eat the meat of the fallen Shranks, may be such that even Aspect-Emperor could not have foreseen. And somewhere deep in the bowels of Ishuali, the wizard Ahkeimion is trying to overcome the fear that his inexpressibly long journey may end in nothing - as far from the truth as at the beginning of the journey.