With the help of Belliom, Sparhawk heals Queen Elana. Ennias flees to Chirellos, where he is under the protection of the Church and still hopes to win the elections of the Archpriest. Ennias is aided by Martel—an apostate pandionian. With a huge army he lays siege to Chirellos, but the king’s army of Vorgun that arrives in time saves the situation. Martel and Ennias are forced to hide in Zemoch, under the protection of Emperor Ott and his dark deity—Azeshe. Ott gathers armies to attack Aozia—Azeshe hungers to obtain Belliom in order to seize absolute power over the world. Sparhawk and his companions set off once again on a distant and dangerous journey—they must either destroy Azeshe or die themselves…