Pavel might have more lives than a cat, but he's already lost a few. Even continued existence in his world of exile demanded a hefty arcane price. Add to that a royal price on his head. Training to finish. Deadly secrets to explore and, if needed, terminally demystify. Yet dangerous tasks keep demanding his time. Those misguided Adepts of Light for one, and like a skeletal vulture spreading its grotesque wings, that mysterious cabal which dreams of reviving an empire of fire and magic.(A novel of approximately 65,000 words)