An implacable virus spreads across the kingdom of Aspermonde, transforming women into soulless but beautiful Mosaics and stealing away their voices and minds. Lieutenant Simon Cant collects Mosaics for his king. But his latest acquisition, Augusta, is troublesome - not only does her sister want to castrate him, but Augusta hasn't yet lost her mind and willpower to the virus. Maybe it's a miracle...and maybe it's just a whole lot of trouble for Simon. All he wants is to get back to Skysend and hand her over to the king. But a covetous collector, insurgents bent on rescuing Mosaics, and Augusta herself have other ideas...