The kingdom of Kairal is in shambles. Their failed invasion of Draconia and the loss of the Colonies has left the militant nation bankrupt and destitute. To make matters worse, rumors tell of blighted crops and a daemon army roaming the farmlands. When Peacekeeper Esther Triad arrives to collect sanctions on Kairal, she's swept up in the investigation of these claims, pitting herself against a dangerous new foe.

Up to their old antics, Vayne and the Valet free the orator Narciss Delacrux from Kairal's custody, setting off a chain reaction that will lead the kingdom to revolt. But questions arise about the intentions of all three men, and how their old grudges will shake out.

Meanwhile, upon her return to Kairal from the military academy, Princess Solonia Estrella finds her country destitute, her father desperately clinging to dreams of imperialism. Caught between the king and the rebelling Marshals, Solonia must decide between her loyalty to her father or the love of her nation.

During this Gunmetal Gambit discoveries are made about just how far King Orrin is willing to go to achieve his goal, and how the absolute power of the Disruptor corrupts absolutely.