Driev Talbert desires only one thing ~ never to return to his old life. Raised among the privileged of Mossrae, he is now content to eke out a living as a jack-of-all-trades in the city's underbelly. When an attempt to save a friend from the gallows leaves him saddled with a street urchin instead, Driev is reminded that the gods aren't as benevolent as some would believe.

Seeing the boy safe is a tough promise for Driev to keep when he'd far rather lose himself in his cups.Then there's the matter of facing off against the powers of Mossrae, who want the boy for their own agendas. Worse,helping the boy lands Driev in the hands of the Coinblades, the elite of Mossrae's Shadow Guilds. For Driev, death would be preferable. Even a slow, torturous one.

With the boy's life hanging in the balance, Driev is forced into the middle of political games with deadly consequences. He must outwit mages and guild uprights, and choose between facing his own demons, or sacrificing an innocent boy. A decision that's not as easy as it might seem.