Weeks after Corum Rath became the new king of Atlantis, Arthur is believed dead, and Rath has cut-off Atlantis from contact with the surface world. Rath plans to use the magical weapons of the Silent School to protect Atlantis, and plans to eliminate all who are not true Atlanteans. In the Ninth Tride, Rath's home province, crime gangs terrorize innocent civilians as well as peaceful mutants who live there. But a mysterious protector emerges to fight the gangs. Vulko plots to over-throw Rath, while in Amnesty Bay, Tula comforts Mera, who is grieving over Arthur's death.