Urus Noellor, a young, deaf man once branded as an exile for not living up to the expectations of the warrior society into which he was born, has defeated the Order of the Sanguine Crystal. Now a prisoner of the Council of Balance, he awaits the outcome of a trial that could mean life or death for crimes he didn't even know he committed. For the others left behind on the world of Emys, six months have passed. Cailix has grown attached to her new family on Aldsdowne, though the return of Anderis threatens to destroy her new foundations. Goodwyn and Therren have traveled to the capital city of Niragan to seek aid in rebuilding Waldron in the aftermath of the battles that nearly destroyed the city. All of them are about to be drawn into the rekindling of an ancient feud that threatens to unleash an enemy even more powerful than the blood mages.