The thrilling follow-up in the to Scholar-in which, after discovering a coup attempt and preventing a bloody civil war, Quaeryt was appointed princeps of Tilbor-begins a new episode in the young Imager's life. Now, in L.E. Modesitt's fifth book of the Imager Portfolio series, Pinceps, Quaeryt is second only to the governor, and still hiding his powers as an Imager. He's enjoying his new position, as well as his marriage to Lord Bhayar's youngest sister, Vaelora, when a volcanic eruption devastates the old capital of Telaryn. He and his wife are dispatched to Extela, Telaryn's capitol city, to replace the governor killed in the eruption. Quaeryt and Vaelora must restore order to a city filled with chaos and corruption, and do so quickly. The regiment under his command must soon depart to bolster Telaryn's border defenses against a neighboring ruler who sees the volcanic devastation as an opportunity for invasion and conquest.
