Making her living as a gambler, Livak travels the towns of Einarinn, answerable to no one and loyal only to her friends. Alas, her luck has turned bad. She's alone and in need of coin. Fortunately, she hears of a merchant paying top prices for antiques from the days of the Tormalin Empire. Since her skills extend to house-breaking, finding something to sell him shouldn't be a problem.

That's how her troubles start. This so-called merchant is looking for magical artefacts to unlock the mysteries of the Empire's collapse. He's not the only one, and his enemies are willing to kill. Livak is drawn into political and wizardly intrigue. Soon not only her own life is at stake. Now she must balance fearsome risks and seize the slimmest chances, hoping to come out ahead.