Alonin was the rightful Lord of Castle Caladon. But the ancient and dread dragon Thudredid occupied the castle, terrorizing the countryside and destroying all who came against it. Every Lord of Caladon had gone against the dragon as soon as he had a male heir. And every Lord of Caladon had been killed! If he chose, Alonin could remain with his grandfather, King Clemmth, and become heir to a kingdom. But the ancient curse of his blood called him back to Caladon. He knew that his time had come and that he must challenge the might of Thudredid. Only by returning the dragon's stolen Dylcaer jewel would he have any chance to survive. But the jewel lay in the coffers of dread witch-queen Urganni, ruler of an island of invincible pirates. She alone was immune to the evil that haunted the Dylcaer. Dylcaer or Thudredid—Alonin knew he had only a choice of dooms!

Through the cold and the dark, the halfing wizard Eamon Menerax fled for his life from the ruin of his home and his great work. Now nothing was left for him except vengeance against those who had conspired to bring about his ruin - and one of them he had recognized. But when he used the power of Barak's true name to force the uncouth troll-man to identify the others, Eamon felt no nearer to understanding. Trion had been a rival in wizardry, but with no sign of great enmity. And immortal Ionythe had been his lover. Then, as he searched his memory, Eamon realized there had been a fourth power against him. Barak knew of no such power, but perhaps he could force the identity from one of the others. Taking the bespelled and unwilling Barak with him as his assistant, Eamon set out - to unspeakable peril for himself and for his world!