Synopsis: It was the science of magic which first lured quiet, scholarly Theodora of Pyrene to exotic, treacherous Ivory, where magic was real, and those who commanded it controlled society. But the lure of one man's magic was far stronger than she had ever dreamed, and she found herself irresistibly drawn to Ran Cormalion, leader of a prominent family of sorcerers. Now, one of the ruling families on Ivory, the Porath clan, threatens to depose Ran's sister from power, and Ran and Theodora feel honor-bound to protect their own. But when they attend a gathering where the eldest son of the Porath family is killed by sorcerous means, all heads turn to Ran. Unless Ran and Theodora can prove their innocence by finding the true murderer, it will be the ruin of Ran and will destroy the family business. But among the Ivory aristocracy there are any number of people who would gain by eliminating the leader of a powerful family and, under such circumstances, can Ran and Theodora ever hope to unravel the many strands of intrigue and clear their family's name? (from the back cover of the DAW Books first edition)