He was a tall man, with hands strong enough to straighten a horseshoe. His staff was ancient willow wood, the weapon of a man who could cast a spell with blinding speed. Now Doge Compher will need every deadly bit of his magic. The vampyren are sacrificing hostages in a monstrous spell, hostages he promised to protect. To reach them, he must travel a desert filled with nasty surprises. Worse, his allies have betrayal on their minds.