From a rising star in epic fantasy comes the captivating second novel in a trilogy featuring an unlikely team who must find a way to work together and solve an empire-spanning mystery to defend the last place they call home.

WINNER OF THE 2024 ENDEAVOUR AWARD

Amadea Gintanas and her archivists solved a brutal murder, dispelling a grave conspiracy against the empire in the process. But danger still looms. When Quill and Richa discover the missing bones of a saint in a roadside shrine, the empire’s fragile equilibrium is put at risk. How this precious relic vanished from its sealed vault is a mystery. The threat posed by this theft is all too clear.
 
The archivists must once again unearth the clues—and quickly. For an old enemy is gathering strength beyond the Salt Wall. And it will not hold him for long.

"Detailed and mysterious, a place to explore and relish. Highly recommended!" ―R. A. Salvatore, author of "The Legends of Drizzt"