Charged with recovering The Shintae, an ancient relic of mystical properties, the Maraen warrior Kaer is surprised by the enemy and, almost within reach of safety, he is left for dead. The object is taken from him and once more he must travel deep into the Cantaen Mountains. There, with his companion Angharad, he faces great danger, adventure and all-out war before his arduous task can be completed. Standing in Kaer's way is Sartae, an antagonist whose evil ambitions know no bounds. A leader whose cruelty and hatred is legendary. As the mission progresses, Kaer and Angharad receive help from the most unlikely of sources but, in the end, they must use all their skill and knowledge to keep themselves alive. As the venture races to its explosive climax, even this may not prove sufficient.