After the catastrophic conclusion to "The Heart of Varste" Rod finds himself in the worst possible trouble: trapped between two women! The physically frail Firetail and his frigidly furious fiancée (oh, and they're in a crashed airship; with king Attar howling for his head ... and other stuff.)

Forced to flee further, Rod is advised to go into hiding. Fortunately the Firetail has friends in low places and Rod is soon an entirely new man: 'Mr Lorange'. Not that a disguise can keep him out of trouble for long. Surprise Twists! Madhouse Capers! A Genius Dwarf! And following like a bloodhound comes the very sinister 'Mr Henche'.

But does Henche actually have a different agenda, and is Rod actually part of the evil scheme? And who is the doe-eyed Miss Alabaste? Is she as innocent as she seems?