Tavi of Caldern, now recognized as the Prince of Gaius Octavian and heir to the crown, achieved a fragile alliance with the old opponents of Alera, the hordes of Canims. But when Tavi and his legions lead the Canim safely to their lands, his worst fears come to life. Wards, terrible enemies of the Alerans and Kanim spent the past three years besieging the Kanim family. And when the Alerans find themselves cut off from their ships, they are left with no choice but to fight shoulder to shoulder with the Kanim if they want to survive. For a thousand years, Alera and her Furies faced every enemy and outlived every enemy. A thousand years...