When Emperor Frederick decides that a parade should be held to honour his return to Highport, Captain Thomas Winterburne of the City Watch knows that things are going to get busy. But, when he also learns that the peace talks with Queen Ysabel of the Commonwealth have broken down he smells even more trouble brewing. Not only that, when he is called to investigate the murder of an apparently innocent serving girl he soon discovers something more sinister going on, something so big that it threatens the very fabric of the Empire. And what's more...only he can stop it.