With too many masters and too little time, Superior Glokta is fighting a different kind of war. A secret struggle in which no-one is safe, and no-one can be trusted. And as his days with a sword are far behind him it`s a good thing blackmail, threats and torture never go out of fashion.
Jezal dan Luthar has decided that winning glory is far too painful a process, and turned his back on soldiering for a simple life with the woman he loves. But love can be painful too - and glory has a nasty habit of creeping up on , a man when he least expects it.
While the King of the Union lies on his deathbead, the peasants revolt and the nobles scramble to steal his crown. Yet no-one believes that the shadow of war is about to fall across the very heart of the Union. Only the First of the Magi has a plan to save the world, but there are risks. There is no risk more terrible, after all, than the breaking of the First Law...