On a distant island

Wrimmad City, the largest settlement on the remote island of Botzis, is in many ways a low technology backwater fishing village, but for one detail: it boasts the seat of Unitism, the world's second-largest religious order.

Polister Calidon, the leader of that order, has lived a politically complicated but otherwise decently tranquil existence, up until the day an old friend shows up at his door. The friend, Professor Damid Magly, and his companion, Princess Battine Alconnot, are fleeing an international warrant, and demand sanctuary. Denying it would mean sentencing them to certain death, but granting it could mean many more deaths, while risking the independence of the Unital order and the sovereignty of Botzis. As Polister knows better than almost anyone, a House denied is a House to be feared.

Across the Norton Ocean

Makk Stidgeon and Elicasta Sangristy are hot on Magly's trail, which they think may lead to Botzis from the port of Oldhasken. Chasing Magly is pretty low on Makk's preferred list of things he'd like to be doing instead, such as arresting Viselle Daska, arresting and/or killing Calcut Linus, or just relaxing somewhere on a beach with a beer. That he's not doing one of those things instead is primarily thanks to Viselle who, along with Dorn Jimbal, convinces Elicasta (and half-convinces Makk) that they need to get their hands on the key in Magly's possession.

To do that, they're going to have to make it to Botzis first. That's not going to be easy. Because there's something dark and terrible swimming in the Norton Ocean. An ancient threat has reawakened. The Outcast is coming. And Makk can't swim.

In The Wisdom of Sand, book four in Tandemstar: The Outcast Cycle, all the pieces—and the keys—are falling into place.