Merlin barely saves Staynair's life from assassins. Arsonists burn down the Royal College, though Merlin rescues its most important scientist. Charisian warships enjoy uncontested control of the seas as Charisian privateers shut down unfriendly trade. Leaders of the Mother Church, the Group of Four, retaliate by closing all ports and impounding docked merchant ships. An Inquisition-led massacre ensues in Ferayd, Kingdom of Delferahk. Later on, a Charisian fleet razes Ferayd's waterfront to settle the score. Staynair takes Merlin to the secret Brethren of Saint Zherneau. Safehold "Adam" Jeremiah Knowles left the memory of humanity's true past to the order's most trusted. Aware for some time that Merlin is superhuman, King Cayleb is allowed to join this "Inner Circle". Merlin makes instant global communication among its members possible. Cayleb marries Queen Sharleyan of Chisholm, creating the Empire of Charis. Prince Nahrmahn of Emerald capitulates and becomes imperial spymaster. To take the war to the Temple, Charis plans to conquer every realm in its maritime region before invading the mainland. Cayleb assembles his forces and embarks for the first target, Corisande. In Ferayd, Kingdom of Delferahk, the Imperial Charisian Navy proves that the Inquisition murdered innocents. Charis hangs the priests responsible, an unprecedented action. Emperor Cayleb gets a warm welcome in Chisholm during a stop to rally forces and supplies. He continues on to Zebediah, a League of Corisande vassal state. There, he warily accepts the fealty of its governor, who is known for treachery. The elite Imperial Marines secure a crushing victory in Corisande, but the talented enemy commander retreats to a strategic redoubt. With Merlin's guidance, Charis finds a way around it and forces his surrender. Victory seems inevitable, but the Inquisition assassinates Prince Hektor to smear Cayleb and stir disorder. The Charisians prepare for a difficult occupation. Hektor's children are smuggled to Delferahk. Merlin fails to detect a plot on Empress Sharleyan back in Charis. His spy drones alert him to the assassins at the last moment, forcing him to unleash his full abilities to fly back and wipe them out. Even so, he nearly fails.