With the Leran threat laid to rest Alec and Seregil are now able to turn their attention to
the ancient evil which threatens their land. The Plenimarans at war with Skalans have decided
to defeat their ancient enemy by raising up the Dead God Seriamaius. The early attempts at
this reincarnation--masterminded by the sinister Duke Mardus and his sorcerous minion Vargul
Ashnazai--once left Seregil in a sorcerous coma. Now an ancient prophecy points to his
continuing role in the quest to stop Mardus in his dread purpose. Seregil's friend and Mentor
the wizard Nysander has long been the guardian of a deadly secret. In a secret silver-lined
room hidden well beneath the Oreska he has served for most of his 300 years as the keeper of a
nondescript clay cup. But this cup combined with a crystal crown and some wooden disks forms
the Helm of Seriamaius and any mortal donning the reconstructed Helm will become the
incarnation of the god on earth. Nysander holds the cup and Mardus the wooden disks--one of
which was responsible for Seregil's coma--but the crown must still be located. Threatened under
pain of death by Nysander to keep his quest a secret even from his loyal companion Alec
Seregil is dispatched to find the last missing piece of the Helm so that he and Nysander can
destroy it. But this is only the beginning of one of his deadliest journeys ever for the
prophecy also holds that four will come together in a time of darkness and gradually all that
Seregil values is placed at risk as he Alec Nysander and Micum are drawn into a deadly web of
terror and intrigue.
