How much is your life worth?
In the territory of Ixia control is maintained through the Code of Behaviour forbidding the practice of magic, but danger lurks in mysterious places...
Imprisoned for murder, Yelena Zaltana's punishment is death, unless she accepts the  Position of the Commander of Ixia's food taster... and risks assassination from poison daily.
In a world where magic equals death and freedom is for the lucky few, the battle for Yelena's life has just begun.