A warp rift of unprecedented magnitude has opened in the Caradryad sector. Entire planets rebel or descend into madness as the Imperium's cyclopean war machine scrambles to stop the threat. The throne's agents include the Covenant Inquisitor, a puritan, psyker, and blademaster. He has a special hatred for his fellow craftsmen who believe that the forces of Chaos can be used as weapons. The Covenant arrives at the Inquisition conclave, confident that they have discovered a traitor, and prepares to publicly press charges against the heretic Talicto. But after an attack on the meeting leaves many of the Inquisitors dead, the Covenant vows to hunt down the culprit and uncover the true nature of the mysterious Renewed cult that orchestrated the attack. And, plunging into the intricacies of this dark matter, the Covenant is sure only that no one can be trusted.