Two years have passed since Zog's Call to Dar Ogar. Sitting one day on the shore of a hot sea on remote Sincol, Tom suddenly saw his old acquaintance Archmage Areus, whom he would not want to see for at least another couple of centuries. When the first desire to launch Andal Lightning at the archmage passed, he listened to the old sorcerer, who made him an offer that Tom could not refuse. But is it any wonder that he soon found himself at the center of a cunning game played by both the gods of the Great Eight and other forces, even more ancient and powerful than them.