Having been rescued from certain death by a dragon, Tan's quiet life is turned upside down when he begins travelling with Alton, the librarian. The man is so much more than just someone who reads dusty old books - he has magic at his fingertips! As his apprentice, Tan finds he has a great deal to learn in a very short period of time. With the aid of a young wolf-cat, they set off to try to stem the evil that is sweeping across the land.

An unexpected coup in the castle means that Autumn, Tan's friend, must flee with her pony in the dark of the night to avoid capture. She has never been out of the village before. Shining Leaves, an acorn loving dragon, has agreed to guide her, but she will face many trials and danger during her journey to try and catch up with Tan and Alton.