Publisher's Synopsis
Twenty-two years have passed since Axel Besnik won his case against Ashdad Zadok, defending his sister, Abigail and her daughter Zita's right to become citizens of the Land of Joy. Edwin expanded Outreach, so that now there are five officers. He discovered many nations nestled in the Azia mountain range. As a result over seven hundred new trails, which are named after him, have been carved out from the Sea of Kuramba in the east all the way to the Welcome Land in the west. Emigration from these new lands have increased the population of Kialo to such a degree that a whole new area has been developed in the Land of Joy, called Westfield. Not all Kialoians are pleased with this sudden influx of people from foreign lands. In addition people like Rupert, and his husband Zahir have recently become targets of prejudice simply for being who they are. Bigotry has infected other nations, including Kialo. Rex Nakul of Tripura has expelled all Barinakians living in the kingdom. And now he is going after Jokhiman Tripurans, who have been forced to flee to Dola where they are not accepted. In North Umbra Elijah the Protector has caged all Katarans living in his land, including entire families with young children. Barinak is mobilizing into the Devachan Valley after the death of King Kilian, with an aim to conquer the Hadithi people of the Duoblecon. And Diabolos is out of prison He, along with David and Paul are amassing an army of Attimarians. His plan is to attack Widdendream and take back the throne from High Priestess Zephyra. Alatan is discovered to be living in a cave in the Azias. Zita meets Yure in a freak coincidence. Mayor Firdus, the ex-mayor of Pandora makes a comeback as well. He is now a powerful Klartvanian with his sites on damming up the Penolong River and flooding the Verleng Basin, which will displace the Paca people who live there. Nadine Dantè, Deputy Outreach officer, reveals the painful secret that she has been living with for fifty years. Axel and the Karana have their work cut out for them. The whole world is seemingly drenched in bigotry, and it is now up to Kialo's expanded Outreach to show that reason still prevails.
