Quote:Having overcome every challenge yet encountered, the Viscain Empire continues to pursue its quest for The Place with Many Doors. Time moves on, with worlds like stepping stones, and Jav Holson, now First General, moves with it, leading the Empire's elite Shades.
On Thrax Palonis, they encounter Dragon Shields, each possessed of a singular power and loosely ruled by an undead tyrant. In transit, the Vine is snared, caught between the guns of opposing fleets, in the middle of a war of mutual attrition. Finally, on Stolom, banishment awaits.
The path to Loss leads to and ends with The Place with Many Doors. The journey is nearly complete, but will the challenges in total-along with the unseen efforts of assassin Salton Stoakes-undo Jav's sanity?