In an Order of Hermes that is slowly dying out, starved for resources and where magi are suspicious of each other, young magi join a large established covenant to get access to the resources it has accumulated over the years. But the older magi are jealous of their privileges and they control the covenant’s resources. Will the young magi be able to rise in the ranks and gain access to this coveted knowledge, or will they remain pawns of the older magi? Either way, they will learn the price of knowledge. (Sister saga to The Price of Freedom)