Book I of Song Of The Tears. After ten years of servitude, Nish is about to be released from the blackest prison of the maimed God-Emperor, Jal-Nish Hlar, his corrupt father. Using the sorcerous Profane Tears, Gatherer and Reaper, Jal-Nish Hlar controls all of the Secret Art. All opposition having been crushed, he has begun to remake the world in his depraved image. The only hope of overthrowing him lies in Nish, whom the oppressed peoples of the world see as a messianic figure, the Deliverer, who long ago promised to return and cast down his father. But Nish is a broken man and must repudiate that sacred oath - he is powerless and alone. And worse, his father is trying to seduce him into becoming his lieutenant and faced with the unbearable alternative of another ten years in prison, Nish isn't sure he can resist the temptation. The one person who can help Nish is little Maelys, a shy, bookish dreamer forced by duty to use Nish for an ignoble purpose. But Maelys is the last woman he wants and she carries a secret far more likely to destroy Nish than save him. Cover art by Les peterson.