Sabien is a monk, an orphan, and a hunchback. His dog, Rahld, follows him wherever he goes, even though Rahld is too big to fit indoors. When Sabien is forced to leave the village monastery in search of The Light, Rahld follows. And when Sabien engages in hand-to-hand combat with a nine-foot tall demon made of brimstone, Rahld helps. Escaped demons fear The Light, and they know about Sabien. They know he isn't actually an orphan or a hunchback. They know Rahld isn't a dog. Queen Karina suspects he may be more than a monk, and the Guardians that watch from Above know he is. But no one knows where or what The Light is: not the renegade princess Magnificent, not the wise-mouth assassin Ei Lata'n, not even the werewolf Ska. Sabien has his faith, he has his friends, and he has his dog. If only he had a clue...