Alastar has settled into his role as the Maitre of the Collegium. Now married and a father, he would like to focus his efforts on improving Imagisle and making it more self-sufficient. However, a crisis is brewing in Solidar, causing the High Holders to call for repeals on the Codex Legis. Once again, Alastar must maintain a careful balance, but he can't avoid the involvement of the Collegium when someone begins killing students. Trying to protect his imagers and hold Solidar together, Alastar stumbles onto a High Holders plot involving illegal weapons, insurrection, and conspiracy.