When a poisoner attempts to murder Surchatain Ares-again-Ares decides the time has come to step down from the throne and go underground to find out who is trying to take over the province. In his clandestine searches, he discovers a hidden room containing a vast cache of gold. While Ares is preoccupied with establishing a link between the gold and his would-be assassin, Henry is experiencing his own torments in getting his betrothed, Ares' daughter...