But the shadows of the past, the encounters of the present, and the tasks of the future are deadlier than ever. Not only an old enemy, a little girl and a whole nation drain her strength... At Castle Cragwater, Karek finds no peace. The king is fighting a deadly disease, the smoldering civil war and the unrest at court are hardly controllable, and then his comrades also make a terrible discovery. Barely back home, an unknown world calls to Karek. Does the lost island really exist? With this journey, Karek demands more from his comrades than friendship and loyalty can give.