After a seemingly random accident, Bette Donovan, piques the interest of the imposing Dept. of Propagation. Here she threads her way through the desperate measures a society will adopt in the name of self-preservation.

A dwarven magus must enter a world he grew up only hearing of. As he strives to find his place and faces numerous dangers (and at least one too many gnomes) his naivete in life and love may bring more danger than any enemy ever could.