"Love is a funny thing. It is love that drives me to abandon Charles once again. It is love that breaks my own heart in order that Charles not become an objective target in the conflict. Vikar, that traitorous viper, would eliminate or take Charles captive in order to compromise me. As sure as there is still life in my body and as sure as this funeral is a well-conceived illusion to convince only one person that I no longer live, Vikar will bear the brunt of my scorn when this is over." Intended to destroy the Grand Counselor, her capture-turned-rescue reunited her heart with that of Charles. As the conflict that brought them back together continues, events set into motion might well now separate them and possibility drive them apart once again. Karen's philosophy of "We are not strong because of what we can do. We are strong because of what we choose not to do, even though we have the power to do it" will be put to the test on a personal level. As the island Topos Hydatos Katharos crumbles into destruction, it becomes apparent that destruction might be the only road to true peace.