Keeper of Prand's Eternal Trees and a Loyal who provides the connection to the Eternal One, Chaff and his companions set sail for Fala only to find the uncharted island inhabited by two warring tribes. Braeth, one of the tribesmen, is an exile from Prand. His chief desire is to prevent his twelve-year-old grandson Vachel from becoming a warrior.

When Vachel captures a young member of the rival tribe, Braeth fears it will encourage the boy's warrior ambitions. While the Loyals use their magic to discover the source of the snowy island's wicked conflicts, Braeth struggles with his own identity, hoping the truth will save Vachel.

But the Non--the antithesis of the Eternal One--will do everything in his evil power to prevent the success of either plan...