Jon Terah, a native of TaJara but a resident of Earth, makes his first journey back to the world of his birth. Initiated to the TaJarean language and culture by an agrarian couple in the lowlands, he is cast in the dungeon of GruddenVort, an ancient city on top of a 3,000-foot granite mountain. GruddenVort is a medieval society ruled with an iron hand. When Jon and his friend, Bacca, are trapped in tombs under the city, they discover an ancient flying machine called a kantar. Given up as a means of travel long ago, the kantar was believed to be useful only for travel in the afterlife. With no other option, they launched from the mountain on the TaJarean winds in the cool night air. Finding their way across the primitive world, they discover an army advancing on the Aarn Confederation. Flying high and fast, they speed toward the city of Cahara and the inevitable battle. How can this smaller city stand against the massive force from GruddenVort?