Following the events of A Dragon's Ascension, Hawkril the mighty warrior, Embra the beautiful sorceress, and Craer the crafty thief mourn their lost companion. But now they must forge new alliances in their roles as overdukes of Aglirta, a land that has been torn asunder by double-crossing royals, savage warlords, and sinister high priests. The kingdom is threatened by a mystical berserker plague that is promoting anarchy among the citizenry. Meanwhile, serpentine acolytes move in the shadows to try and resurrect a new Serpent. Will a new Dragon rise to vanquish it? The fate of Aglirta lies in balance in this triumphant conclusion of the Band of Four cycles.