“The world is ending. It is a cruel place and perhaps it should end. But then, there is Rion and you, and the brothers, and Rarnak, and those like you, those I might still find reason to fight for. So I look for Jargas, so he might help me, for I can stand alone against the darkness no longer.” —Farad, Lord of House of Wolven After risking all to come to the aid of Rion and his friends, Farad believes his only hope for sanity and survival lies with Jargas. Yet it is Jarina who will either destroy or save him, at the cost of a lifetime of faith and loyalty to Prince Talon. Meanwhile, past the outskirts of Nalea, Aras and Leonas undertake a dangerous mission to parlay with the Hill People, never dreaming the fates of both their own people and Talon’s rest upon the outcome. Ironically, consumed by suspicion and mistrust, believing Jargas to be the Enemy’s minion and fearing Farad lost, Talon lashes out at Aras, with devastating results. The Amontir see agents of the Enemy everywhere, where there are none, and fail to see those who are beside them, ready to strike.