Its main character is Althalus, a professional thief enlisted by the Goddess Dweia to save the world from the desolations of her evil brother Daeva and his henchman Ghend.

The story revolves around Althalus, a professional thief with a gift for storytelling and a reputation for uncanny luck.

Furious, Althalus steals all the brass coins and leaves – only to become chased by every man in the fort, its owner taking advantage of the situation to claim the theft of a non-existent fortune.

After two and a half thousand years, Emerald reveals to Althalus that the book can be used to accomplish feats of magic .

The intervening two millennia have seen many changes in the world, including the initial stages of an ice age triggered by the evil God Daeva.

The cat and Althalus set out to gather a party of people who are destined to save the world from Daeva's dominion.

With their purses full, they return and meet Andine, the queen (or "Arya") of Osthos, in her palace, posing as slavers.

With the deal struck, Althalus leads his troupe out, but overhears Eliar planning on attacking him with the other soldier slaves.

Leading their newest member out of the city, they rejoin their group and decide to hastily leave before morning comes and Andine is discovered missing.

During the night, Althalus and Eliar hear someone sneaking towards their camp and capture the boy named Gher, who, it turns out, is their sixth member.