A new religion is rising, gathering followers of prophetess Jane Oden. Her sister Cinzia is by her side, but both the Church and the Nazaniin assassins are still on their trail. Knot, his true nature now revealed, is haunted by the memories of others. Astrid travels to Tinska for answers, but the child-like vampire has enemies waiting for her. And in the empire of Roden, a tiellan woman finds herself with a new protector who wants to use her extraordinary abilities.