When the Flames of Desire gets taken by a hostile rival, Habme decides to look deeper, uncovering signs of a problem that could threaten the very foundations of the country. However, between recovery, trying to get a proper scrying spell and getting the authorities to pay attention, Habme begins to fall back into old habits, old habits that had got him kicked out of the military in the first place, old habits his friends know and wish to stop before it affects the rest of his life.