Antecedent: Royal Gambit

Martin Kingswraith is undergoing transition to a higher level of white wizardry with the help of Penelope Epimeliad, Queen of the London tree Sprites. The date is 1885, in Victorian London, and Kingswraith has come to the attention of the Umbra, the living shadows. He has killed one of them. Without his advanced training he will be destroyed along with everyone he values.
To reinforce his power Kingswraith works with Penelope to create a stave, a wizards' staff with a core of pure silver in a sheath of woven wood. Three of the Umbra come to London and establish a base in Barnes. They surround themselves with ape-like were-men called hierodules and the faceless undead, partially eaten people who fall under the thrall of the shadows...