Rahl, a apprentice scrivener on the isle of Recluce, likes life to work through in his favour. And he includes a bad attitude, too. To be sure stuff go his method, he uses a little bit of order magic at opportunistic moments-but his abilities are needs to get the interest of the Council magisters. Therefore the Council sends him towards the mage training school for testing, and through misuse of his capabilities, which are getting stronger on a regular basis, Rahl gets himself banished to the continent and empire of Hamor.

As an exile in Hamor, working in the Ordermage Council’s import and export business, Rahl’s forces increase-and so does the amount of difficulty he will get into.