A harsh winter is settling in across the land and the Shadowkings. are moving their pieces into play in a very one-sided game.

Far to the north the shadowking Byrnak broods in his fortress. Harried by a fragment of the Lord of Twilight, and mistrustful of his fellow shadowkings, he knows he must utterly crush the remnants of the Khatrimantine Empire, despite the powers of the Earthmother goddess.

But despite overwhelming superiority, doubt still assails him; he knows that his is not the only power moving in the world.

In the face of almost certain doom, the forces of light must stand together against the darkness, but their leaders are unsure of their next step. Ikarno Mazaret, now Lord Regent, still grieves over the death of his beloved, the mage Suviel. Ranging forth from the city of Besh-Darok, he takes ever more perilous risks. And although Tauric has been crowned Emperor, he feels increasingly powerless to influence «events and despair begins to taint his every decision. Keren Asherol remains haunted by her shattering encounter with one of the Daemonkind, while her twin, the mirrorchild Nerek, is dogged by sinister omens.