Eriq Hapspire spent his life in service of the government. He was a faithful soldier in the war against mages. He followed the leadership of the tyrant Sarcathian. When Eriq nears the end of his wretched life, he seeks connection with his long lost son. Aeryn Dunsmere wants to change the world. His future career in politics looks promising, until he is contacted by a mysterious woman claiming to know the identity of Aeryn's long-lost father. When Aeryn goes to investigate, he finds that not only is Eriq Hapspire his birth father, but he is also a war criminal, responsible for the deaths of countless magic users and mage sympathizers. The truth of his father's atrocities threatens Aeryn's future in politics, and presents a hurdle that he may never overcome.