In a village on the edge of the Frontier, D is among the warriors and mercenaries hired to defend the village from the Black Death, a notorious bandit gang. But the bandits don't arrive, and the village mayor dismisses the mercenaries. As D leaves the scene, he's struck by "sunlight syndrome" — the deadly ailment unique to dhampirs! While D is recovering, and his sentient left hand is running the show, D is again called on to help. It seems the Black Death is coming after all...