Silas has fled with the broken Chalice of Önd, forcing the companions to flee into the surrounding forest, pursued and hunted by the remaining angry swarms of hobs. But their escape is slow as Isolde falls ill; the injured hand she plunged into the Chalice during the ceremony is infected and the disease is spreading rapidly, transforming her flesh into the scales of a hob. Sick with worry, Rollo decides to go after the chalice, hoping to reverse the spell, but Leaf insists on returning to aid...

The kingdom of Deverry is left behind and strange lands to the west beyond the elven territories are explored. The story delves back into elven history to the fall of the cities and the Great Burning.

On what should have been a day of celebration - the day marking their transition from boys to men - Varo and Brostek's lives were changed for ever. Their village was destroyed by the Knifemen of Bari, leaving them homeless, orphaned and alone.

After the spectacular victory at Kortag, Thandor appears safe. Bek and Jez, however, are imprisoned and in grave danger. Forced to fight in the deadly arena where all who face them are enemies, they make plans for their escape... but to escape, they must first survive. Perdimonn, Warder of the Earth Key, also faces a perilous road. The powerful Magician, Selkor, having restored Darkweaver's amulet, is now attempting to gather the Keys of Power. Perdimonn must risk everything to stop...