When an engineer is sentenced to death for a petty transgression of guild law; he flees the city; leaving behind his wife and daughter. Forced into exile; he seeks a terrible vengeance - one that will leave a trail of death and destruction in its wake. But he will not be able to achieve this by himself. He must draw up his plans using the blood of others...In a compelling tale of intrigue and injustice; K. J. Parker's embittered hero takes up arms against his enemies; using the only weapons he has left to him: his ingenuity and his passion - his devices and desires.