Signed by the author on the title page. Penric tries to guide betrayed General Arisaydia and his sister Nikys to safety in the Duchy of Orbas. In the town of Sosie, the fugitives encounter unexpected delays, and even more unexpected opportunities and hazards, as courtesan Mira of Adria - one of ten dead women whose imprints make up chaos demon Desdemona's personality - comes to the fore with her own special expertise.
