Long ago the Mages of Alasea beset by a dark & implacable evil made a last desperate stand to preserve some remnant of their once-beautiful l&. Knowing their own destruction to be inevitable the Mages gathered the last of their magic & stored it away against the need & peril of a distant time. In doing so the Mages gave the people of Alasea a future & a hope -- & damned themselves forever.. . Now five centuries after their destruction a young girl Elena inherits the powers that the Mages had so carefully hidden from their enemy. But though the Mages are long dead their ancient foe is not -- & when the Dark Lord learns of Elenas power he turns all of his terrible strength against her. Desperate & alone fleeing from disaster escaping into darkness Elena seeks out the allies & knowledge that can help her to master her bitter gifts & cast down the evil that shattered the land of Alasea.. . Find out more about this & other Orbit titles at www.orbitbooks.co.uk