To Entivia "Boots" Malatesta, the King of Mande was a twisted monster. Anibal Cipriano held a teleportation amulet in his deft, thin fingers. The gold glinted in the flicker of flames from the ornate glasswork lamps. The crown of Mande sat on his desk where he could touch it when he worked. Blood dripped from the White Granite Sword Myrgen had entrusted to her. Her eyes took in a Plan of Attack and under that, almost unreadable, a recipe for making the thing in his hand. There was a third paper upon the desk, larger than the two on top. It was a map of Caratia. But no one of Mandian blood could touch Caratian soil. What was his angle? And what role did she play?