Defeat breeds anger. Hatred breeds revenge. Once again, the sorcerers of Halruaa repelled the attack of Akhlaur. Once again the kingdom was saved from its enemies. But the victory came at a huge price. The old king is too weak. The chief advisor, Matteo, is torn between the dictates of duty and the dictates of his heart. Tzigona, the heroine of the battle on the Akhlaur Swamp, found herself in a dark world from where she may never return. And Akhlaur and his ally, the Hound Mage, started a new revenge.