Shadow demons plague the city reservoir, and Red King Consolidated hassent in Caleb Altemoccasual gambler and professional risk managerto cleansethe water for the sixteen million people of Dresediel Lex. At the scene of thecrime, Caleb finds an alluring and clever cliff runner, crazyMal,whoeasily outpaces him. But Caleb has more to worry aboutthan the demoninfestation, Mal, or job security when hediscoversthat his fatherthe last priest of the old gods and leader of the True Quechalterroristshas broken intohis homeand is wanted in connection with theattacks on the water supply.