The borders have been, closed for 700-years. Elias has been, arrested for crossing into the forbidden zones. Barrak must end his self-imposed exile and return to the city, to get to the bottom of his young friend's disappearance. He finds the capital tense with talk of rebellion and security chief, Meldrick, tightening his grip on power. Allying himself with Jasmyn, the feisty and beautiful astrologer he has known since childhood, Barrak becomes witness to a conspiracy at the core of the military establishment. But, power is not all Meldrick wants...he also wants Jasmyn. When parliament is suspended and martial law imposed; Barrak and Jasmyn are, cast as enemies of the new order. They must flee Eyre. As they travel east, they will learn that humankind has re-invented itself in surprising ways, since the Fall; from gentle hunter-gatherers living off the land; to blood-thirsty bandits with an appetite for slaves and flesh. Strangest of all are the aesthetically militaristic easterners whose city is, built amongst the ancient ruins of a vast harbor city. If they can survive ruthless bandits; man-eating predators and the attentions of a charismatic rescuer, turned terrifying monster; they might yet perish in an unforgiving wilderness before reaching their goal.
