[citation needed] Beginning where Armageddon's Children ended, Knight of the Word Logan Tom races to save the gypsy morph Hawk and his girlfriend Tessa from being thrown to their deaths from atop Safeco Field.

He is too late but learns that a brilliant white light enveloped the two as they fell, apparently saved by an unknown magic.

[citation needed] The Lady of the Word appears to Logan and tells him to head south to the Columbia River where Hawk will meet them with many followers.

Later they are ambushed by followers of Krilka Koos, a rogue Knight of the Word that Logan had once heard about (from the Spiders in the mountains when trying to reach Seattle in Armageddon's Children) near Longview.

[citation needed] In the Elven city of Arborlon, Kirisin and Erisha are caught in the library by Culph, the King's historian.

Culph offers to help them find the seeking Elfstones, revealing that they were buried with the powerful Elven Queen Pancea Rolt Cruer.

The Knight of the Word Angel Perez and the tatterdemalion Ailie arrive in the Cintra shortly afterward, escorted by a group of Elven Trackers, including Kirisin's sister Simralin.

Angel and Ailie are given an audience with the High Council and the King, while Culph lead Kirisin and Erisha to a vantage point where they can eavesdrop on the meeting.

Angel and Ailie tell the Council that they have been sent by the Word to help them take the elves and the Ellcrys to a safe place.

Kirisin, Erisha, Simralin, Angel, and Ailie meet later that night to share information on the Elfstones and theorize as to why the King seems unwilling to help them.

At the same time, the demon Delloreen (who has now mutated to have an animal-like, scaly form, with virtually no vestiges of any human-like qualities), who had been tracking Angel, enters the Cintra.

Once clear of the city, Kirisin uses the Elfstones, which direct them to Syrring Rise (current day Mount Rainier).

At the Columbia River they find a blind elven ex-tracker named Larkis Quill, who ferries them across as the bridges are all occupied by militias.

[citation needed] Within the ice caves on the mountain's peak, Kirisin and Simralin find a frozen, life-size statue of a dragon.

[citation needed] After disappearing from Safeco Field, Hawk was transported to a strange garden where he meets a mystical old man called the King of the Silver River, who tells him Tessa is safe and sleeping.

Despite the approaching danger, Hawk leaves the party with Tessa and Cheney to search for the Ghost tribe, instructing Helen to take in any other refugees she finds.