Half-elven Leesil burns with the need to rescue his mother, an alleged traitor, now held captive by elven assassins. But his obsession will endanger him and his friends, as they cross the mountains in the dead of winter, to a land known for its eerie beauty and hatred of humanity. For all of them, the journey will raise more questions than answers ... Magiere, part-human, part-vampire, is plagued by visions of humanity's ancient enemy. But which side is she destined to serve? And Chap, their canine guardian, faces a new fear. He united Magiere and Leesil for his kin, their goal being creation of an alliance against the forces of dark magics. But now this alliance is under threat, why have the Fay abandoned him?