The second volume of The Tamir Triad, a major new fantasy trilogy of necromancy and bone-chilling magic from the bestselling US author of the Nightrunner series. Long ago, during the dark days of the Great War with Pleinmar, King Thelatimos journeyed to the Oracle of the God Illior at Afra to save his warn-torn kingdom. Here he was presented with a prophecy 'So long as a daughter of Thelatimos' line defends and rules, Skala shall never be subjugated.' And that is how the line of queens ruling over Skala was established... But, when Queen Agnalain took the throne the people of Skala suffered greatly under her cruel tyranny. Prompted by the people, her son Prince Erius claimed primogeniture, and seized the throne. Erius's ascent may have pleased the population, but a small faction, one who had not forgotten the prophecy, were worried. Plague, drought and famine spread throughout the kingdom weakening it's defences and offering easy pickings to Skala's old enemy and neighbour, Plenimar. As people began remembering the Oracle's prophecy, Erius quietly killed off his female relatives who posed the only threat to his monarchy. As the only living child of Erius's dead sister, Prince Tobin