Crown Prince Thorn:

I felt defeated. Helpless. If Sherra were alive, why didn''t she mindspeak to tell me so? Every day, I floundered against that notion-that if she were alive, she''d have contacted me by now.

"Don''t give up, Thorn," Hunter said softly. "We don''t know everything there is to know."

"Hunter, every day reminds me of how little we actually do know."

Sherra has not returned to the King.

Seven months have passed and Kaakos, Ny-nes'' leader, is rebuilding his army. His plan is to unleash an onslaught against Az-ca-in retaliation for the destruction of his troops and weapons.

In Az-ca, the King''s health is failing, the enemy is on the march and Merrin and his rogues have forged an alliance with enemy infiltrators. Will the Crown Prince be forced to deal with attacks from both sides, without Sherra''s help?

Will Az-ca survive if Sherra is dead, as so many believe?