As the death toll rises in the Sethoru kingdom of Ontiria at the hands of the Rahtumi army, Grace and Kelysn find themselves banished from the fight by General Praedus, and lost. The Sethoru tree village of Karthia burns under the might of Treybough and the Rahtumi onslaught, and its inhabitants face something far worse than death. Meanwhile, the dragon Mooncrest discovers paradise and captivity aren't enough without the presence of his master, Grace. And the kingdom of Empyrea finds it is not immune to the throngs of war as the shadow of death arrives at the very walls of its city!