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 harbour 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.