Just as the young emperor Arka-Dal has forged an empire different than anyone ever imagined possible, his old nemesis reappears and launches an invasion from three sides that threatens to topple Thule. At the same time, a hostile nation to the east seizes the opportunity to wrest the Eastern Desert from Thule’s control. As Arka-Dal struggles to unite the Valley states together under one banner to drive out the invaders, he is faced with the possibility that the war is just a diversion to keep him from figuring out the Silent One’s true goal…obtaining the legendary Books of Alzari that hold the keys to magical powers that would enable the wizard to conquer the world.