There is a dark secret to the White Council's executions of convicted warlocks. They do not merely prevent the casting of a death curse. They also hide artifacts at the execution site which slowly slurp up the released life force and store it. This process is gradual enough that no one not in the know notices it in the air of death and black magic. What secret scheme is being fueled with all this necromantic energy? Who is in on it, and who else will find out?