There are no true victors in war. Even those that prevail cannot escape the burden of guilt for those who have fallen, and all those who witness the ugliness in the hearts of men are forever tainted. Ile-Ife has fallen and with it, the greatest ruler to have ever sat the throne. Now, the ripples of dissidence and retribution spread through the realm like a pestilence, leaving nothing but ruin in their wake, but the bloodline of kingship must endure. As the sons of King Jide strive to forge new alliances in distant corners of the realm, deceit and betrayal are ever their close companions and the unseen hands of the capricious gods are now intent on shaping the fate of mortal men. Emerging powers in far-away lands circle like carrion birds, drawn by the scent of a bleeding kingdom, while the newly anointed King Olise, still aided by the witch Ekaete, whose powers and influence continue to grow, fights to maintain his grip on a tattered empire.