Stranded thousands of miles from their companions, Jax, Oracle and Sehran are alone, cut off from support, and the only thing they have in plenty are enemies. Stranded on a hostile continent with only Oracle and Sehran, Jax is facing a hard truth: all the power of his newfound crown means nothing in a land where no one knows his name--and wouldn't care if they did. Time's running out until the enemy find him, and without his friends and his legions, what chance does he have? He's far from home, surrounded by enemies in an unknown land, and where his own lands are now free of the taint of the dark one and his minions, Carrmor is anything but. Sonra lies ahead, a target, a hope, a trap possibly, but when you're surrounded on all sides, that just means there's a lot of experience available. Jax has a choice, he could turn and run, try and find a ship and start the long, perilous journey home, or, he can start again from scratch with the target on his back. Monsters, mayhem, and rival crowns, not to mention the daggers in the night, but whoever said becoming emperor would be easy? It's time for Jax to do what he does best, and give the things that hide under the bed some fresh nightmares.