The kingdom of Detina has been torn apart by a terrible civil war, as King Avram battles to hold his realm together and also to free the blond serfs. At the beginning, the rebellious North had better soldiers and more powerful sorcerers. But now the South's advantages -- a larger population and greater wealth -- have begun to tell. Yet, the war is far from over. Use of sorcery is unpredictable, as the North has recently learned the hard way when spells went awry and crucial battles were lost. And now the South must battle the North on its own ground, ground which will prove treacherous and deadly. . . .