Magic and murder engulf the realm of Kelewan.Fierce warlords ignite a bitter blood feud to enslave the empire of Tsuranuanni.While in the opulent Imperial courts, assassins and spy-master plot cunning and devious intrigues against the rightful heir.Now Mara, a young, untested Ruling lady, is called upon to lead her people in a heroic struggle for survival.But first she must rally an army of rebel warriors, form a pact with the alien cho-ja, and marry the son of a hated enemy.Only then can Mara face her most dangerous foe of all--in his own impregnable stronghold.An epic tale of adventure and...

The world on the other side of the rift: Kelewan, a land seething with political intrigue and deadly conspiracies. Following the opulent panoply of Daughter Of The Empire and the dazzling pageantry of Servant Of The Empire comes the resounding conclusion to the Empire trilogy.

Besieged by spies and rival houses, stalked by a secret and merciless brotherhood of assassins, the brilliant Lady Mara of the Acoma faces the most deadly challenge she has ever known. The fearsome Black Robes see Mara as the ultimate threat to their ancient power. In search of allies who will join...

"'What would you do if you were the strongest man in the world, the strongest thing in the world, mightier than the machine?' He made himself guess answers for that rhetorical inquiry. 'I would run the universe single-handed. I would scorn the universe and turn it to my own ends. I would be a criminal. I would rip open banks and gut them. I would kill and destroy. I would be a secret, invisible blight. I would set out to stamp crime off the earth.'" Hugo Danner is the strongest man on earth, the result of a monstrous experiment by his scientist father. Nearly invulnerable, he can run faster...