After the rout at Rasenna, Concord faces enemies on all fronts, and
nobody believes that the last surviving Apprentice is equal to these
crises - but Torbidda didn't become Apprentice by letting himself be
manipulated.
While Sofia is struggling to understand her miraculous pregnancy, the
City of Towers grows wealthy. But it's not long before the people of
Rasenna start arguing again, and as the city falls apart once more,
Sofia realises she must escape Etruria to save her baby.
When prophecy leads her to another cesspit of treachery, the decadent
Crusader kingdom of Oltremare, Sofia begins to despair, for this time
she can see no way out...