As wars and rumors of wars spread, Karl and Tewfik flee the dungeons of Malasephus, leaving one friend behind and carrying the ashes of another. Meanwhile, Elise, the young woman from Sep's boyhood has joined the Sumisarian order and is learning the mysteries of the Sumis and the hidden power of the runes; but when a strange man arrives carrying a deadly secret and a dire warning, her world comes crashing down.
Torn from the safety of Tome, the village that has sheltered her for the last three years, Elise escapes into the night and everything she once thought she knew was true is turned upside down. Pursued by an unknown enemy who has an army of nohetka at his command, Elise, Luk, and Tyre race through the night toward the only point of safety, Ymbren Geard, where few men have ventured, and from whence even fewer have returned.