Rewritten, with new material.
In the third volume of Exordium, this swashbuckling space opera
continues with Brandon and the Rifter crew of the Telvarna arriving at
the Panarchic Navy's headquarters. The Rifters are imprisoned, and
Brandon finds himself, as sole heir to the Phoenix Throne, fighting a
battle of symbols, his only weapon his wits as he strives against the
powerful and sophisticated aristocrats who hide lethal intent behind
urbanity and style. His goal is to win back control of the Navy and
rescue his father from the vicious end planned for him by the usurping
Doljharians, resulting in a race to the harsh planet of Gehenna.