Stripped of her power, with deadly foes at every turn, Magdalen sets out for the safe haven of Toth. An unwilling witness to the murder of a FireDrake along the way, she is captured by a marauding band of Imperial Dog soldiers. Their ruthless leader, Kaspar, is a crazed fanatic who will stop at nothing to see that she faces Emperor Gamel's harsh justice.

In a heinous act of betrayal, Shark-tooth, the mysterious Kelatch, has abducted Sir Rodney from his castle in Balor. The Sorceress Magdalen will stop at nothing to bring him back, and with the help of the knight's closest friends she follows the trail beyond the South Curtain Wall and deep into the Kelatch wilds. What no one suspects, however, is the shocking identity of the person who is truly responsible for Rodney's abduction.

On the day of Lady Agnes and Sir Gregory's wedding feast, an attempt is made on Prince Erik's life. Magdalen learns that Crystal City is under siege and feels duty-bound to undertake the long journey back through the Olaug, even though she is well past three moons pregnant. Wizard Aldus decides to sail to a another continent, that for all he knows may not even exist. In the midst of all this, something dark is stirring in Carpathia and Sir Hugh is determined to discover what it is.

Finally free of Gamel’s binding spell, Wizard Aldus and his companions are on their way back to Coronus. Unfortunately, their ship is damaged and they are being pursued by three Herrenvolk warships intent on preventing them from ever reaching land. Sir Rodney and his small band of dog soldiers has finally tracked down the men who kidnapped his wife. Now nearly eight moons pregnant, she is being held captive by Ali-Farid, a desert prophet who happens to be surrounded by an army of ten thousand loyal tribesmen.  Meanwhile, back in Balor, Sir Hugh has finally confirmed just who is really behind all of their troubles.