Now the battle to save the soul of the planet has begun. The Kingdom of Charis and the Kingdom of Chisholm have united, promising to resist the tyranny of the corrupt Church. The young Queen Charleian of Chisholm married King Caleb of Charis, creating a unified dynasty, a unified empire dedicated to the defense of human freedom. Crowned empress of this empire, Charleian found in the arms of Caleb the love she had never dared to hope for in a “state marriage.” In Caleb's case, his defiance of the ruthless group of four who rule the mother Church, she has found a task to which she can devote her mind and her courage. This is the job she was born to do. And yet there are things that Charleyan still doesn't know. Caleb wasn't allowed to share secrets, even with her. Secrets like the true history of humanity on Safehold. Like a tangled web of lies, deceit and fabricated “religion” that has shackled humanity for almost a thousand years. Similar to the existence of the genocidal alien Gbab, awaiting the complete destruction of humanity if humans ever caught their attention again. For example, the existence of a young woman, Nimue Alban, nine hundred years dead, whose heart, mind and memories live on in the body of the android warrior monk she knows as Merlin. And so Empress Charleyann faces the greatest test of her life, unaware of all that the task truly entails... or how the secrets the man who loves her cannot share could threaten everything they have. reached between them... and her own life. In response to the bloody seizure of Charis' merchant ships in the Delfirac port of Fireyd, the Charisian fleet destroys the port and, based on irrefutable authentic evidence, executes the inquisitors who organized the seizure and led it, posing a direct challenge to the dominant power of the Church and the entire temple quartet. After successes in battle, Charis' fleet dominates the seas, capturing the ships of his opponents and blocking their trade. His marines land in the Principality of Corisanda and, thanks to long-range rifled rifles, improved field artillery and new tactics, win decisive victories over Prince Hector's land army. Trying to stiffen resistance, the Inquisition kills the prince and his heir at the hands of mercenaries, but Corisande is forced to surrender to Charis on his terms. Empress Charlienne almost dies and loses almost all her guards in an armed assassination attempt carefully prepared by Temple loyalists while visiting the monastery of St. Agta.