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For the city of Hope, stability is a memory. Counseled by
Lord Denon, the leader of the Church, Vel, the new and very
reluctant young king, has unintentionally prompted a bloody
civil war. Pounded by an unrelenting winter and faced with
diminishing food supplies, the city of Hope is carved into
a battleground. In the midst of shifting alliances, Vel relies on Lord
Denon and General Wunic-his military adviser-to help him
end the conflict. But the situation deteriorates. The only
hope is a cache of food reportedly stockpiled by the
mysterious Frill in the abandoned ruins south of the city. Against the backdrop of social and political anarchy and
widespread starvation, Vel must make the dangerous journey
to the ruins and make contact-and come to terms with-the
Frill. What Vel finds instead is a powerful kind of computer-based
portal into the future. A late-twenty-first-century future
controlled by a brilliant but ruthless terrorist known only
as Blakes. But what is the link between Blakes-a cold-
blooded mass murderer from the future-and the conflict
devastating Hope? Vel must find the answer. And fast. Time is running out.
For Hope. And for Vel. Harsh snowdrifts bury the dead,
loyalties have become strained. Vel must face the horror
not only of Hope's past, but of its future.
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