Ligea's son Arrant leaves Tyrans for Kardiastan to take his place as Mirager-heir while Ligea prepares to halt an insurrection. But Arrant's skills as a Magoroth are dangerously inconsistent & his father Temellin finds it difficult to communicate with this secretive young man he barely knows. Arrant's singular ability to communicate with his half-brother Tarran
- a part of the collective mind known as the Mirage Makers
- leads them both towards the possibility of a tragic clash with the encroaching Ravage. As Arrant's enemies among the Magoroth plot to ruin his family & his future as heir he begins to realise there is a greater mystery to solve if he is to prevail.