Rahl was a young apprentice for the island of Recluce who was simply delivered to the mages’ training school for screening, then banished to Hamor. His education today continues under dangerous conditions. In Hamor, his forces have improved but so has the amount of problems he attracts.

The whole society of Hamor is a new culture for L. E. Modesitt, Jr., to explore, one in which magic is certainly a monopoly of the condition. Rahl is a mage today, powerful and still just as harmful to himself also to others. This is the story of how he benefits more understanding and power while also learning even more self-control.