For eight years, Lapis had sought vengeance against the rebel traitor who helped Jilvayna's palace guard invade Nicodem and slaughter her family. Perben is now exposed, but ranking rebels who see their own fates twisted into his try to downplay and ignore his vicious betrayal, and view discrediting and harming her as the solution to their problems. Disgusted, her brother Faelan, Leader of the Rebels, and Midir, the true heir to the Jilvaynan throne, contemplate drastic measures against internal threats.
Lapis wants nothing more to do with the rebellion, but those she cares for are entwined with it. She becomes a reluctant go-between for Faelan and Midir, while attempting to keep her career as a chaser viable and the street rats who visit her reading circle safe. On top of it all, the brewing underwar between opposing criminal enterprises has brought added danger to the streets of Jiy, in the form of syndicate battles and the Dentherion soldiers King Gall enlisted to quell them.
The attempted crackdown on syndicate movement by empire troops endangers the street rats, the rebellion, and the delicate agreement between Faelan and his potential Dentherion ally. Lapis's partner, Patch, believes the solution lies in Ambercaast, a Taangis Empire ruin where Hoyt, the guttershank who instigated the underwar, fled. Hoyt is staked by the rebellion as well as several criminal syndicates, becoming a tantalizing target for any competent chaser. Patch sees a quick in, a quick out, and a huge payout.
Lapis hopes their stake is as simple as it sounds.
Ambercaast is part of the Lapis of Nicodem serialized dark fantasy / science fantasy series. If you like Ambercaast, check out Lapis of Nicodem: Book 1. Lapis's story continues in Knavish Canto: Book 3 and Broken Dulcet: Book 4 (ONGOING).