The world is a sad, sad place...........even to a thief. And Conrad Tredspel is no exception. Orphaned at the age of seven, Conrad is not a happy man. Forever he has lived in a world of unpleasant and unhappy people: the Starving, those who suffer from a lack of food; the Turning, those who will randomly kill or harm an ally or friend; the Wailing, those who know not the way of speaking, and wail horrible cries in failing attempts to communicate; and the Insane, those who will rampage through small towns with sharp weapons and dispose of anyone in their way; all the terrible results of the Red Plague. With the only cure locked away in a heavily guarded tower, people everywhere are dying. Will Conrad be able to steal this cure, or die in the process?