Two years after The Physicians of Vilnoc, Penric foils an attempted assassination-by-magic of his brother-in-law General Arisaydia, leading to a series of events that sends Arisaydia back to Cedonia by ship, soon to be followed by Penric travelling by land. Along the way there are demons to meet, children to rescue, political plots to foil, and the usual... another enjoyable and readable installment in the series.