Armies are gathering but Astalus, the Thracian court wizard, is in a
quandary. Shocking news has arrived from an unlikely source. A spy,
arrested brazenly entering the city, claims to be a prince from a royal
household that was overthrown, the family members murdered over sixty
years ago. Intriguingly, the spy's claim to be from Allund is more than
a coincidence, for the army marching against them is also from Allund.
Who indeed to trust? The stranger brings with him news of an army from
Trosgarth, which can only mean one thing. Drachar's shade has been
summoned and the Prophecy is coming to pass. Old alliances are broken
and many monarchs slain. No sign yet exists of the king predicted by the
Prophecy, who will save them all. Astalus, normally so certain and
confident, is suddenly plummeted into his worst nightmare, for soon
Thrace could be threatened by demons and, against them, there is no
salvation. In a land fraught with betrayal, fear and death, the shadows
are deepening.