Aisling of Bruadair's quest to restore her country's rightful rulers to their throne has been long and difficult. Now, after a lifetime of lies, she's confronted with an unexpected truth: Bruadair's salvation may lie within her. But the path to harnessing her newly discovered magical gifts threatens to lead her back through a past that may well spell her death.

With his own magic restored, Rùnach of Ceangail has come to terms with the fact that the simple life he once coveted is no longer an option. Instead, he is determined to help Aisling fulfill her quest, even if his part of the bargain includes facing evil mages with power far greater than his own.

But once they reach Bruadair, Rùnach and Aisling discover that nothing is as it seems, and not only must they accept their past, they must also embrace their destiny--before the enemies drawing near succeed in extinguishing all the light in the world...