The empire has fallen and another rises in its place in the action-packed third book of Devin Madson's bold and bloody epic fantasy quartet.Expecting to find allies among the deserting Levanti, Rah instead finds an enemy in their enigmatic Horse Whisperer. No longer a unified group, he struggles to lead the fractured Levanti, and will have to choose between fighting for his people's survival and the life of his oldest friend. Having allies isn't the same as keeping them. Miko has to move fast to secure a foothold in the ruins of her empire, yet for every success she makes ever more enemies. With the empire at stake she cannot give up, but can she be the empress she wants to be? Or will she have to give up everything to be the ruler her people will accept?Named Defender of the One True God in punishment for failing to kill deserters, Dishiva finds herself precariously poised between two worlds. She can neither trust the Swords who betrayed...