With his only friend dead, murdered by Sybil, mind-mage Arvin swears revenge. He sets off on a secret journey to the barony of Sespech, eager to put distance between himself and his old life in the vile City of Serpents. But even this faraway human realm crawls with the yuan-ti—and countless other dangers that regard Arvin's growing psionic powers with contempt. Among Sespech’s yuan-ti is Karell, a half-blood with a mission of her own. Her serpent’s eyes are set on Dmetrio, scion of the powerful Extaminos family. They are said to hold the fabled Circled Serpent, an ancient artifact of such immense power that it could destroy the world if it falls into the wrong hands . . .