In this sequel to The Well of Tears, a young acolyte struggles to save her order from ruin in a war-torn kingdom. Glain, Proctor of the Stewards and second to Alwen, Guardian of the Key to the Spiritual Realm and pro tempore Sovereign, must discover who threatens the safety of Fane Gramarye, the last bastion of magic standing against the forces of an evil mage, Machreth, who is bent on thwarting the prophecy of the Ancients and usurping the throne from its rightful king. Conspiracies, intrigues, and treachery present significant obstacles to finding and bringing together the four Guardians of the Keys to the Realms, a daunting but necessary task to ensure the safety of the kingdom. Glain's visionary powers are formidable; but can she trust those she calls her friends? Or her own heart, so set on sharing a life with Alwen's son, Rhys, who must fulfill his own destiny? Moreover, Glain guards a secret of her own that she must come to terms with before the prophecy of peace can be fulfilled.