Vashk, who had been killed, animated as one of the corpsefolk for a time, then restored to true life while still a small child, has never fit in well in his new home in Sharlan. Taunted and constantly bullied, defended by very few, even among his own family, finds that he must work with one of his tormentors, a cousin, Idena, who is a novice priestess of the Risen One, despite her being the direct granddaughter of that god's younger brother. For her...