One thousand years after the fall of the patriarchal god, Izdun, forces old and new conspire to undermine the reign of the Sœurarchy that replaced him. They are a sisterhood of immortal elven women whom most of those under their rule accept as goddesses, but many others believe to be merely demonic witches possessing more power at their deposal than wisdom to use it. Leresai Fervarryn serves at the behest of Lady Intrigue, Rhoethella. She is sent to confront a regional lord whose hand seems to be at the center of recent tumult. Born of a proud people historically known for their rejection of divine providence over them, her own motivations for serving as Rhoethella's most feared intelligencer remain enigmatic.