On a dying Mars, the proud people of Laurr cling to ritual, honor, and ancient power as Terran invaders descend to strip the world bare. Caught between rebellion and ruin is Telis of Lars, a young Maldia warrior whose rise threatens old rivals and offers his civilization one last chance at defiance. When the masked aristocracy chooses him to answer the outlanders, Telis steps into a struggle shaped by secrecy, betrayal, and desperate patriotism. But Laurr's fate is not as simple as war against the foreigners. The hidden Temple city of Dorliss, long dismissed as legend, reveals itself as a dazzling center of science, learning, and covert influence, and its priests claim the Tellurians may be Laurr's only hope for survival. Abducted, tested, and drawn deeper into Temple intrigue, Telis is forced to confront everything he believes about loyalty, cowardice, and power. As he encounters the High Superior, the mysterious Gorla, and a striking imprisoned woman who may be central to the conflict, he must choose whether to fight for the old order or risk the future of his dying world. This edition has been fully restored with modern typesetting, custom cover design.