Introduction: When a priest is murdered, a cardinal named Reginald Larth begins to investigate despite the Chancery鈥檚 disapproval. As a man of the Codes, he's incapable of allowing such evil acts to continue. However, the investigation leads him into the darkest depths of a society he once swore allegiance to protect. An unlikely companion may be his only hope for survival or could be the one that kills him....