Short Synopsis
L. E. Modesitt, Jr., returns to imaginative world where music is the vehicle for creation and magic for a new cycle of tales starring a new heroine, Secca.

Full Synopsis
Secca, a young sorceress, is thrust into a position of power and responsibility when the legendary Sorceress-Protector of Defalk dies unexpectedly before Secca's training as a master magic wielder is anywhere near complete.

As she leads an army for the first time, Secca finds that she must master diplomacy in order to save her ruler and his kingdom and form alliances with unfriendly potential allies. At the same time, she discovers the unexpected potential for love and companionship in a world where few men are wise enough to value women as anything more than wives, mistresses, or mothers.

Coping with it all, Secca proves herself to be more than just a quick study; she has become a courageous woman who shows a fearless commitment to fighting the good fight.

"The saga continues on course toward becoming Modesitt's most outstanding work of fantasy." ---Booklist

"The main enjoyment of the novel comes from the simple pleasure of escaping into the world the author has created." ---School Library Journal