**Set in the universe of Rory Thorne, the second book in this sci-fi
series follows unlikely allies who must discover the secrets of ancient
ruins.
**
Iari is good at killing monsters. As a templar in the Aedis, a
multi-species religious organization committed to protecting the
Confederation, eliminating extra-dimensional horrors is her job. But
after she helped stop separatists from sabotaging the entire
Confederation, she discovered a new sort of monster: the
rogue-arithmancer, political kind.
Promoted and sent north to the tundra of Windscar, Iari leads a team of
templars to investigate ancient, subterranean ruins, which local legend
claims are haunted, and which have mysterious connections to the
dangerous arithmancy used by the wichu separatists. Iari isn't worried
about ghosts. She's worried about surviving separatists and a fresh
attempt to upend the Confederation.
Included in Iari's team are Char, a decommissioned battle-mecha and
newly-joined templar, and Gaer, ostensible ambassador and talented
arithmancer. As they delve into the ruins, they find remnants of
long-ago battles, bits of broken armor and mechas--which unexpectedly
reanimate and attack. It seems there is still dangerous arithmancy in
Windscar--but the source isn't who Iari expected, and they're far worse
than the separatists....
