A difficult road, drenched in the blood of enemies and friends, filled with tears of despair and sorrow, brings the Keeper of Diamond and Wooden Swords, the mage and necromancer Fess, to Narn—the abode of the Dark Elves.
But the inhabitants of the magical forest refuse him shelter, foreseeing the future of the black wizard as the Apostle of Darkness—who is destined to bring death to Evial. Fess also failed to find refuge among the light elves. After fighting the faithful servants of the Inquisition—students of the Brenner castle—and allowing the air-mage Giles to be captured, Fess violates the necromancer’s word for the third time. In a desperate attempt to take revenge on the Inquisition, Fess loses his remaining friends, his hard-won love, and is closer than ever to the Grey Borders. The time of the mage’s wandering comes to an end; now it is time for the mage’s solitude.