Synopsis: Cataia, the Crown Princess, cheated out of her right to rule. Tiernon, the Adept, so much more than the court fop he seems. Bertham, the King's man, in thrall to a demon in his lust for power. Ayt, the High Priestess, who plays for stakes only she perceives. Siuran, the nomad, who lives to see the prophecies fulfilled. These are a few of the players in a game of court intrigue, with a kingdom as a prize. And behind the mirror the Laughing Master waits, to claim the souls of the losers... (from the back cover of the first edition)