In the world of M'Rael, a young woman and two young men find themselves thrust into machinations which began millennia ago... Alara had learned magic in a kingdom where magic was forbidden to women, and she had gone even further to learn magic forbidden to all. She embarks on a perilous journey, pursued by the relentless wizards of Raujorn, and learns that her magical abilities may be a curse rather than a gift. Aerham had been trained since his earliest memories to become a knight in the Brotherhood of Light, but upon arrival at the Brotherhood's legendary fortress, he learns that the knights are not as honorable as the stories say and he finds himself pushed toward a destiny which he cannot avoid. Aryl had only joined the Brotherhood because of his friend Aerham. Choosing to avoid soldiering, he signed on as a scout and found himself thrust into the harsh frontier lands along with another scout, Jaegor. Together, they learn of a danger greater than anyone could have guessed.