On Darkover, it is the era of the Hundred Kingdoms - a time of nearly continuous war and bloody disputes between minor kings who seek to increase their power by usurping their neighbors' domains. A time when Towers are conscripted to produce terrifying laran weapons - weapons which kill from afar, poisoning the very land itself for decades to come. In this dark time, there seems no limit to the violence men are willing to wage against their adversaries in the name of power.But in this terrifying time of greed and imperialism, two powerful men have devoted their lives to changing their world and eliminating these terrible weapons. For years King Carolin of Hastur and his close friend, Keeper Varzil Ridenow have dreamed of a world without war. Now they petition the domains of Darkover to adopt a decree that they call the Compact. Their Compact, a law based on honor, will ban all distance weapons, thus forcing one who seeks to kill another to fight hand to hand and face equal risk. Sadly, the Compact remains just an idealistic dream, for few kingdoms are willing to leave their borders undefended against hostile neighboring domains.But while Varzil and Carolin continue their difficult campaign to bring peace to Darkover, another man hides in the alleys of Thendara, biding his time and plotting the destruction of these two heroic men. For Eduin Deslucido, renegade laranzu who disappeared during the battle which nearly destroyed Hestral Tower, still lives.Carolin Hastur had been Eduin's beloved friend when they had trained together at Arilinn Tower, but now Eduin lives only to seek his old friend's death. For Eduin's father Rumail, who should have guided him, supported him, and nourished his powerful laran abilities, has instead wedded his son's soul to his own fanatic quest for vengeance. On Rumail's deathbed he sets a compulsion spell in Eduin's mind - a spell so powerful it haunts Eduin's every waking moment - a spell of destruction against Carolin Hastur and all of his clan.Tormented by the spell of his dead father, compelled to kill a man he once loved, wanted by the Towers for laran crimes, can Eduin break free of the shackles which bind his mind, or is he doomed to carry out Rumail's deadly plans for revenge? Read Less