Synopsis: The pride of princes - Deymorin, Mikhyel, and Nikaenor were the descendants of Darius Rhomandi, the man who three centuries before had rebelled against the tyrannical ruling priesthood of Mauritum, and founded Rhomatum - a new city based upon his dream of democracy. Now Rhomatum is the most influential city in the world, supported by a Syndicate of loosely allied satellite cities. But the sudden death of the ringmaster of Rhomatum - the person responsible for channeling and controlling the magical leythium which fuels the city, throws the nation-state into chaos, threatening the rule of the Rhomandi dynasty and leaving Rhomatum open to plots of conquest both from its ancient enemy Mauritum, and the Syndicate satellite cities. As Deymorin desperately strives to resurrect defenses that have lain fallow for generations, and Nikaenor struggles to bring order to a city in shock, Mikhyel finds himself following a trail of secret agreements and ancient feuds - a trail which leads him from the depths of Sparingate Prison, to the teeming trade city of Shatum, and finally to the decadent courts of Khoratum, and a fight for independence that penetrates to the heart of the leythium web itself! (from the back cover of the DAW Books first edition)