During his expedition to find the lost priests of Morcyth, James learned in part what he was brought to this world to do. But to accomplish what needs to be done, the City of Light must again be free of the Empire. In order for that to happen, however, he must devise a campaign through which that can be made a reality. Once the spring thaw begins and the passes are once more clear, he leads all but a few from The Ranch over the mountains into Madoc. Beginning at Lythylla, the capitol of Madoc, he sets into motion events which he believes will drive the Empire from Madoc’s soil. A friend’s past brings unexpected allies and James stumbles upon a dark secret buried deep beneath the ground for centuries. A secret better left alone.