As an apology for the apocalypse, the pantheon promised a new generation of children born faster, stronger, and more powerful than the survivors they'd be sworn to protect. These children would come to be known as Partisans, institutionalize themselves under the name of Palisade, and conscript one another in service to the six territories of Auditoria. Blessed to serve, never to be served. Around eight hundred years later, Rhian Sinclair is bored. Grumpy and still grounded for yet another incident on a long list of misdemeanours, Rhian plots her way off the Isle of Palisade and back to work—even if she's convinced her superiors are trying to kill her. Even if she's certain the next job will be her last. Meanwhile, Andrei Strauss is resigned. He never wanted to be a priest, but with little choice in the matter, he takes his vows and leaves the Isle of Palisade for a sleepy, isolated village in his home territory. As he adjusts to his new role at the church, it isn't long before he's confronted with solving a series of indiscriminate kidnappings. Despite his desire to leave his old life behind, he's forced to reach out to his fellow Partisans for help—after all, he never wanted to be a detective, either. Along the way, lifelong friends are reunited, ancient secrets are revealed, and at some point, an assassin and a telepath walk into a bar separately. From legend to life, truth to lie, fiction to fact......it all begins with them.