Horrified with the misuse of magic that they had witnessed through the First Battle of the Races, the Druids at Paranor devoted themselves to the study of the old sciences, from the period prior to the collapse of civilization one thousand years before. Only the Bremen and some trusted affiliates still analyzed the arcane arts. And for his persistence, Bremen found himself outcast, avoided by all however the few free-thinkers among the Druids.

But his removal from Paranor had not been altogether a terrible thing, for about The First King of Shannara Bremen learned that dark forces were on the move in the Northlands. That apparently invincible armies of trolls had been fast conquering everything that lay with their south. The scouts for the army–and its principal assassins–were Skull Bearers, disfigured and transformed Druids who got fallen prey to the seductions of the magic arts. Which at the heart of the wicked tide was an archmage and previous Druid named Brona!

Using the special skills he had acquired through his own research of Magic, Bremen could permeate the huge camp from the Troll army and find out a lot of its secrets. And he instantly comprehended that if the individuals of the Four Lands were to flee eternal subjugation they would need to unite. But, also united, they might need a weapon, something so effective that the wicked magic of Brona, the Warlock Lord, would fail before its might…