Who Dares to Tame the Dragon? When Magic Battles Nature -- Which Shall Prevail? The River Bilcad is a Dragon indeed. It is a monster but poorly restrained by the complex network of canals built to control and harness its raging waters and protect the people of Mishbil. Princess Zaryas, youthful viceroy of the city, learns, quite literally, that the ground has shifted under them all. Slow movements in the earth have raised the canals higher that the river, rendering them useless. Mishbil will slowly die of thirst. A brash young Magus named Xerlanthor comes forward with a daring plan: to use muscle and magic to dam the river and refill the canals. He seeks to win favor for his plan even as he strives to win Zaryas' heart. Ruler of a people that love to gamble, Zayras must bet everything, not knowing if her choices will lead to a double triumph--or a double disaster.