In the introduction, seven wizards use a mummified reptilian creature to cast a spell to raise Yole from the depths.

While investigating the bridge and the mysterious happenings associated with it, a massive bird appears, snatches up Sharina, and disappears with her.

The woman, Colva, takes Cashel to Landure's castle where she puts him into a drug-induced stupor through which he discovers that she is actually a demoness.

In exchange for his freedom from the sapphire, Krias helps Cashel to cross the Chasm and reach Sharina.

Hoping to kill two birds with one stone, Garric assigns Lord Tadai to be ambassador to Sandrakkan.

Garric has several dreams about Klestis, a city destroyed at the same time Yole was, and the wizard, Ansalem.

Ansalem had seven acolytes (the most dangerous of which was Purlio) who used the ammonite to imprison him while he was weak after rescuing Klestis from the destruction of Yole.

After spending a few days tending to matters of state in Valles, Garric receives news that his uncle has helped someone to kidnap Tenoctris.

Before returning to Valles, they rescue a woman who claims that she is Colva, wife of Landure, the Guardian, and warns them that seven necromancers intend to do battle with them.

Armies of undead begin entering Klestis, coming across bridges similar to the one that first set these events in motion.

The first night on the ship, Ilna and a tough-looking sailor named Chalcus, witness the beginnings of a mutiny.

In the interior of the island they discover a harbor bordered by a polis full of reanimated dead people.

As they make their way around the island, a creature called the Tall Thing (which was once Ansalemn's child) kidnaps Merota.

While pursuing it, Ilna is captured by a wizard named Ewis (one of Ansalem's apprentices) who has the Lens of Rushila.

Chalcus defeats the ice beetles while Ilna subdues the necromancer long enough for Merota to bash in his head with a rock.

Inside a broken-down temple covered with images of serpents she meets a reptilian creature, the Dragon.

He reveals that he has brought her back to the past to send her on a mission to recover his mummy which is being used to raise Yole and reanimate the dead.

Sharina and Dalar are locked out, but at that moment Cashel appears and uses his quarterstaff to punch open the door.

Tenoctris casts a spell which takes them to the frozen time where they encounter Purlio as well as Ilna and her companions.

In the land of the dead, Garric encounters Purlio and severs his connection to the living world, thus killing him completely.

Tenoctris—a wizardess from King Carus’ day who accidentally sent herself forward in time when Yole was being sunk into the ocean.

Alman—a wizard who prefers to live a life of solitude at the end of time Ansalem the Wise—a powerful wizard from the time of King Carus Lord Attaper—commander of the Blood Eagles Celondre—a historical poet, philosopher, and aristocrat (modeled after Horace) Chalcus—a chanteyman and former pirate who allies himself with Ilna Colva—a demoness who escapes the Underworld with Cashel's unwitting help Dalar—a member of the Rokonar and Sharina's bodyguard Elfin—a human boy kidnapped by the People and taken to the Underworld Ewis—one of Ansalem's apprentices Harn—a spider-like creature which guards a bridge on Yole Katchin—Cashel's sycophantic, self-serving uncle Krias—a powerful demon imprisoned inside Landure's sapphire ring Landure—a wizard on another plane, guardian of the Underworld Count Lerdoc—ruler of Blaise Merota—Lord Tadai's niece Mykon—a prince who lived on Cordin before the sinking of Yole Purlio of Mnar—principle acolyte of Ansalem the Wise and a powerful wizard in his own right who surrenders himself to one of the Great Ones Reise—Garric's adoptive father Lord Royhas—Garric's royal chancellor Lord Tadai—Garric's Royal Treasurer and later Ambassador of the Prince to Sandrakkan Tiglath—the captain of a brothel-barge King Valence—current Lord of the Isles Vonculo—sailing master of The Terror and a mutineer Earl Wildulf—ruler of Sandrakkan There may be some relationship to the writings of Robert William Chambers and the Cthulhu Mythos as there are numerous mentions of the Yellow King (p. 179–180, 316) as well giving the appellation “the Old Ones” (pp.