The high priest's husband is on a rampage. A skilled assassin, S'Tyll has made it his mission to take revenge on behalf of his spouse. Unfortunately, he's starting with Jisten, S'Rak's bonded Valer and captain of the guard. At the same time, S'Rak is in deep trouble, for his Zothian past hasn't remained decently past but is dominating his present and trying to collar his future. Can S'Rak manage to convince his outraged spouse to accept Jisten and attack his real enemies instead? To make matters worse, the attacks on the Valers continue, this time right through S'Rak's carefully wrought wards. With the chapel not yet sanctified, it's as vulnerable as the Valers, and S'Rak is duty bound to defend them all. With S'Tyll under arrest, time becomes a commodity even more precious than gold or water. S'Rak will stop at nothing to secure S'Tyll's release before the horrors of gaol drive the empath insane, but will it be enough? Or will it be too late for S'Tyll?