A new commission turns out far more complicated than it first appears, for this time it isn't only about magic, but the human heart. And the outcome will shape more than one destiny. Still, what better challenge could a true artificer hope for?

Count Voznesensky will master the craft of the forge and call on the power of nature itself. He will offer an extraordinary chance to his new associates—and to a desert world that has long forgotten the sun. And along the way, he'll finally settle matters with his aunt.

All of it will be touched by an aspect he once commanded: Hope. Every secret, every hardship, every shadow is nothing compared to the strength of hope—hope for the very best in people. And if that isn't enough . . . the new artifact will finish the job.