Rav Trisarin and her allies successfully stopped Tetamii Fiadar's plot to ignite a war between Alaboq and Kefya, revealing his lies as nothing more than an attempt to stir old, bitter prejudices between nations. But the threat is not behind them, as the man pulling the scorcher's strings holds a seat of power among Kefya's leadership, and Elikar Thymes is not one to be denied his goals.

While some of the band travels to Kefya to thwart Elikar's further machinations, Rav and Wymund Sylnorin undertake a mission all their own: discovering how to keep the burgeoning power at Rav's disposal from consuming her in the Illuminated Death. Alongside other lightbloods like her, they must learn how to siphon the Wellspring energy safely and effectively if they hope to protect themselves-and the world-from devastation.

After all, Elikar is not the only danger on the horizon. Tetamii is bloodied but not beaten, and as tensions continue to build across the continent, the risk of a second Rupturing is imminent.