The stranger, to whose aid Nerian comes, is young, beautiful and mysterious. At her insistence he accepts a gift of a Crook. A decision Nerian soon comes to regret as he finds himself the target of a manhunt. To survive, Nerian must evade the forces sent against him by the merciless Lord Sigeberht and find a way to return the Crook. Held captive within the castle of the tyrant, Naomi, the Guardian of the Crook, awaits her opportunity to escape. As Lord Sigeberht fails in his attempts to obtain the object, external forces take control of his mind - their promises of ultimate power and riches drive him blindly towards disaster. Nothing can prevent him from releasing the source of this manipulative influence, a shadowy entity of pure evil that has been confined for centuries beneath the Binding Temple. Unknown to Nerian, as he desperately seeks out Naomi, the Keeper of the Gauntlet too is making his way towards her. To Naomi alone is granted the ability to combine the powers of both Crook and Gauntlet. Only then can they fight back against the insidious Shadows, a pestilence which threatens to destroy all with whom it comes into contact. What is the significance of Gabrielle, the kidnapped daughter of the Keeper? As a weapon against the forces of evil, the innocence of a child should never be underestimated.