Cirrus@Austlit

The empire of Assharral is wealthy, peaceful and secure, its ten provinces stretching over deserts, plains and mountains, eight races shielded under its roof. The empress of Assharral is powerful beyond resistance, beautiful beyond flaw, immortal beyond the threat of age. As she dreams beside her fountain, it seems nothing can ever change. Until a stranger enters Assharral, a landless, penniless vagabond - a vagabond who knows how she has enspelled the empire, whose very presence will fling Assharral into the throes of bitter conflict, battle, and destruction: and then, into ultimate change.