Whilst his sister, Maerad, pursues her dangerous destiny in the frozen North, Hem is sent south to Turbansk for his own safety. But soon the forces of the Dark overrun the great city and Hem flees with his mentor Saliman, his white crow Irc, and a young orphan girl Zelika, to join the resistance. He agrees to help fight the Nameless One by spying on the child armies of the Dark. But, in the Light's underground base, Hem has a vision - he too has a part to play in Maerad's quest for the Treesong...