Three years after he consumed the soul of Castellan Mohdri, The Deceiver is conquering the realms with his army of Maizan riders, who are under orders to capture Thorn Drumheller and Elora Danan.

His Nelywn clan soon learns that the Maizan has conquered Testaverde, and deduces their next target to be Sandeni, a state impervious to the effects of magic.

There, she finds a pool of its kind being held by another Nelywyn clan to build a world gate that can provide access to other realms.

While attempting to free the firedrakes, Elora has a bizarre vision - an idealized version of herself, followed by a dark figure's formation and approach.

Wishing to reunite with Thorn, who she feels is the closest she has to family, Elora persuades Rool to ride with her on Bastian to Sandeni, where he is currently hiding.