Ben Counter's new novel from the Warhammer 40,000 series is dedicated to one of the most tragic events in the history of the Imperium - the fall of the Soul Drinkers. This Space Marine Chapter inherited the glorious traditions of the Legion of Imperial Fists and the blood of the primarch Rogal Dorn. He also inherited Dorn's personal weapon, the Soul Spear. But many centuries ago, the Spear disappeared into the warp along with its flagship. No one expected to ever see the priceless relic, but suddenly the Order becomes aware of its current location. The Administratum decided to involve a unit of the Soul Drinkers in a joint operation to destroy the presumptuous aristocratic house of Van Skorvold, which owned a star station for processing human material, and a collection of artifacts, among which was the legendary Spear. In addition to the Soul Drinkers, the Adeptus Mechanicus and the Imperial Guard took part in the operation. The task of the Space Marines looked simple - to capture the station, arrest the Van Skorvolds, take the Soul Spear belonging to the Order and leave it to the Administratum and the Guard to act. The assault went smoothly, although not without losses, but when Librarian Sarpedon was already stretching out his hand to take the Soul Spear, they teleported into the treasury tech guards of the Adeptus Mechanicus and stole the relic directly from under the noses of the space marines. This utter insult marked the beginning of a chain of tragic events that led the noble Order to the brink of destruction and even beyond...