Pulled from his village in the imperial army's wake, Idzi is the latest squire to serve the Emperor's Fist – Marn Gadanzer. The job is hardly glamorous, though, and cleaning blood-spattered armor every day is not what Idzi had in mind when his proud parents sent him off to serve a highborn lord. Idzi soon learns the real value of life as his friend is killed by Marn over a moment of clumsiness. There's a way to settle the score, but it involves a vial of enchanted oil and the mysterious Lady Senka. It's a dirty job, but he's the only one who can do it.