Mike's done with this life.
He's tired of mages and portals, a brother who's a warrior woman, and his own scarred up little megrym body. Now he's got an army at his back. This time, when he wants to take the Rift Pendulum home, better nobody even think to tell him no.
Even though the Pendulum War is over, there are still forces out there bent to stop him. Druze Wozencraft's body is under witchlock but his immortal mind is ever active. Delv Verayn, feared among mages as the Dire Blue, is in the wind. And Enverpasha is marching on the aians to seize Nasreddin, threatening the new and fragile peace.
Don't none of that matter. Mike's either going to go home or die trying. No more delays. No middle ground.
It is what it is.