The stranger, to whose aid Nerian comes, is young, beautiful and mysterious. At her insistence he accepts a gift of a Crook. A decision Nerian soon comes to regret as he finds himself the target of a manhunt. To survive, Nerian must evade the forces sent against him by the merciless Lord Sigeberht and find a way to return the Crook. Held captive within the castle of the tyrant, Naomi, the Guardian of the Crook, awaits her opportunity to escape. As Lord Sigeberht fails in his attempts to obtain the object, external forces take control of his mind - their promises of ultimate power and riches...

-A novel that twists and turns and is extremely poignant in the present political climate.- Young, naive and idealistic, all Nathan wants is to change the world for the better. Involved in the affairs of the Party for National Unity, from its inception, Nathan's progress is rapid. After the party seizes control of the country, his own ruthless actions bring him to a prominent position, where he is feared and loathed in equal parts . Then, over a matter of days, his life falls apart. Arrested, brutally interrogated, his loyalty questioned, he is released into a world where his family has gone...