The company now know that Garion's baby son has been kidnapped by Zandramas and is to be used in a terrible ritual which will make the Dark Destiny supreme. The group, however, have been detained by Zakath, Emperor of all Mallorea, and taken to Mal Zeth, the largest city on the world.

When a dire plague strikes, they manage to escape and, as prophesied by the Seeress of Kell, travel on to Ashaba - but, although they find Urvon, mad disciple of the evil God Torak, and the Demon Lord Nahaz, Zandramas is gone. In a desperate race against time, the company turn east once more to follow her spoor . . .