The king of Narvonne is dead, and the capital has fallen. Trist and his allies have defeated the daemon Adrammelech, and in the aftermath of the battle, the conflict between Narvonne and the Caliphate of Maʿīn has been set aside. Reunited with his wife, Clarisant, at Falais castle, Trist is finally starting to feel comfortable with the duties and power of an Exarch.