Pepin has reclaimed his title as DragonMaster, but his allegiance is in question. Is he loyal to Mere Odain or the elves? The timing of this political crisis couldn't be worse, as the Crown Prince intends to depart the next day for a diplomatic visit to Dalziel.
Once in Dalziel, things rapidly begin to fall apart. Politically, Kyel and Jansson are at each other's throats, Vantann and Thomlin make friends in the wrong places, and Treyas finds out that his SoulMate and squire, Druce Sinclair, suffers from a horribly painful and incurable disease.
To top it off, Treyas discovers that Dalziel has been overrun with Nydiri with the power of Illusion in their grasp.
When Vantann, Thomlin and others disappear, Treyas must find a way to free the captives and destroy the Nydiri threat once and for all...
