After the chaos in Naayt, Harq and Ti-Joto are forced into the dangers of Shr-Koioon, a savage land where the only laws are greed and violence. While fighting against cruel and vindictive new enemies, Harq and his young charge face new obstacles and new breakthroughs along their path to becoming chronostics. And while Kaiabreen gears up for a devastating war, Thagó and MarAset engage a top-secret mission that will tear the four of them away from Qorodis and into the terrors of the Darkold. If they succeed, they will transform civilisation itself. But if they fail… will they destroy it?