"After a narrow escape from the assassin Helan Jie, Duan Ling and Wu Du race back to Tong Pass to carry out their mission: eliminate the treacherous general Bian Lingbai and take control of the fortress on behalf of Southern Chen's imperial ourt. Yet their task takes a perilous turn when enemy forces outside the pass, sensing weakness, seize the chance to launch an all-out attack. Duan Ling must use all his wits and everything he learned form his father to hold Tong Pass against he foreign invaders until help arrives. At the same time, the closer Duan Ling grows to Wu Du, the harder he finds it to keep his true identity as the crown prince a secret. Duan Ling doesn't want to lie anymore--but revealing too much now might not only jeopardize their mission, but drag them both into terrible danger"--Cover, page 4.