As Haykon's refugees converge on Calandra, Zadok's army prepares for their final assault while Jack and Ranse struggle to convince the incompetent king that the annihilation of Calandra's people is imminent. Thane, Dor, and Tam return to their homeland seeking a talisman that might be their only hope in defeating the evil horde that is bent on their destruction but old jealousies and hatred could be the stumbling blocks that doom all good races to ultimate extinction. Jne seeks to regain her honor knowing that very likely it will end with her death. Time is running out for all as fate races to meet them in this explosive conclusion of the Master of the Tane series.