Lyta is trying her best. She is determined to stay out of trouble, avoid Sylvian and the queen, and, above all, not embarrass Kit. So when Kit asks Lyta to help the temple recover their stolen relics, Lyta has no choice but agree. Who better to track down thieves than the one blessed by Ennin himself? But when her search lands Lyta in trouble with the blacksmiths, and Sylvian steps up to protect her, keeping away from the palace and its politics is harder than Lyta imagined.

Kit misses Ben - the scholar has been busy working at the blacksmith's guild on a secret project, and their time together has been reduced to a few stolen moments. Then, to save his workshop, Kit is forced to help Lord Alderton search for his missing sister. But when his quest leads him to the very same blacksmith's guild, it is clear that there is more at stake than just one missing girl.

For when Lyta travelled across the veil, she ripped a path out of it - and something is clawing its way to Amberes. Something vast and deadly. Something so terrible that the gods quake in fear . . .