With the children of the Dragon King travelling further apart, Khellaran quickly becomes desperate and must change tactics or lose the twins to the corruption of the One Power. His only option: Locate the key to the Twelve Gateways, and return the True Bloods to Kohr. LeAren begins a dangerous journey to find a Spirit Walker that will take her deep into the jungles of the Southern Kingdoms. Meanwhile, her twin brother, Baradin, teams up with Sarna on the ship of the Wind Dancer. Despite his misgivings, the young Prince of Dragons decides to give the agent of the Crimson Fist a chance to prove her loyalty to him. Unbeknownst to the others, Tarra Gwineren, has been taken prisoner by the Crimson Queen. There, the Sorceress learns that the Dread Lord, Kra'talock, has clawed his way to Kohr with the help of the Dark Council of Ten. She must find a way to free herself from the Spell Binders and stop the assassination of Empress Adreana Dellahara, or allow everything the Resistance has fought for to be undone.