The reappearance of necromancers to the Dominincál city-states worries Sadonia prolate Estobán Medovin. Ever since Masters Nico and Theodyne drove the necromancers from his mind three years before, he's suffered an odd afflictionpainting while asleep. It is a secret that, if discovered by his enemies, could bring his rule to an untimely and violent end. On the eve of the demigogal elections in the holy city of Gusan, fearing the new candidate might be under the necromancers' direct influence, Estobán requests an alchemist well-versed in ferreting out death dancers to join his mission to seek out conspirators.
Evil floods the streets of the holy city, and the elementals are anxious. Master alchemist Jolen Meripen should know; as an aerothanthybrid of a human and air elementalhe can hear their voices in his head, telling him of the corruption festering under the pristine edifices.
When Jolen discovers a piece of the ruby tablet known as the Elementica in Estobán's possession and the necromancers bid to collect them all and thus rule over the elements, he knows he must do everything he canincluding sacrificing his life to bring peace to Dominicál and save the man he has come to love.