Book excerpt: The Empire is marching relentlessly towards its final confrontation with Collegium. Empress Seda will brook no weakness in her soldiers, and either she or her bitter enemy Stenwold msut claim a final victory to determine the fate of the city. Yet the campaign may be decided far away from the armies and noise of battle. In the shadows of an ancient Mantis forest the Empress is undertaking her own personal quest for the lost power of the old world, and Cheerwell Maker is determined to stop her at any cost. The struggle between two rival magicians awakens something far deadlier, a force that could make even the clash of nations pale into insignificance.