Alucius is happy back on his nightsheep stead with his beloved wife Wendra, who is expecting their first child. But the country is beset by enemies - both overt and hidden-on all sides. He finds he has no choice but to answer the call to return to active duty. Newly promoted to higher rank, and given command of a combined force of the Northern and Southern Guards, Alucius must quell a strange, religiously-inspired rebellion, destroy the powerful weapons of ancient design again being used by the forces of Madrien, and confront the alien evil that seeks to enslave the whole world of Corus in the guise of bringing back a lost golden age. In this climactic third volume of the "Corean" trilogy, only the timely assistance of the mysterious ancient Soarers and the addition of Wendra's Talent to his own give him any hope of success.