Tag lives a peaceful life with his family, working their homestead away from the bustle of the nearby city, and trying to forget the war from twenty years before. But trouble rises as Kuran, a ruthless general and conqueror from the nation of Thrall arrives with an army at his back. In a split-second decision, Tag plunges his family into great danger, and is forced to take them on the run

On a simple farm far outside of town lived a man with his family and with his secrets. Violent secrets. When a rising tide of war approaches, those secrets see the light of day, and no one around him is safe. He will take his wife and twin sons from their homestead and flee to escape the violence of his past and his future.

Tag, Willow, and their twin sons, Brass and Brandt, have only barely escaped with their lives. However, as they leave behind one threat, they do not realize they are heading right into the jaws of another - for they have fled into a dangerous mountain pass where the endless maze of turns is the least of their worries. Lurking in the vast series of canyons are great and powerful creatures, hungry for hapless travelers. But there are new friends to be counted upon, also. But will it be enough to tip the balance?

On the far side of the Great Northern Mountains, Tag and his family emerge, hopeful their great troubles are now behind them. But what awaits them in the first town they come to causes a rude awakening. For, the forces from which they have fled are waiting for them. Even worse, Tag will also encounter old allies - men who want to draw him back into his life of war.

Tag and his family have resolved to enter the fight against Kuran's seemingly unstoppable hordes. What's more, he sees an opportunity to gain powerful new allies - but they are disparate factions who strongly distrust all but their own kinds. Complicating matters, one of Tag's sons has been gravely wounded and requires a powerful healer.

The war begins to take shape. While Tag makes a bold move to gain more allies in the coming battle, Kuran - now ascended higher than ever in the ranks of both power and madness - plots his next moves. Treachery abounds on both sides, with spies and turncoats alike risking everything to further their dangerous agendas. Sariya, Ghenn, and others work as many angles as they can manage to wreak havoc against their enemies. But who will rise victorious?

In chapters 56-69A, Kuran gains more and more power for himself and increases the size of his army. Tag and the other members of the resistance begin to liberate conquered towns and cities. In doing so, they start to add numbers to their forces in an attempt to prepare for the coming war. Meanwhile, Willow, Shalah, and the twins - Brass and Brandt - scheme with the island natives of Gahkul to overthrow the forces of Thrall along with the deadly firemancers occupying Shalah’s former homeland.

Tag marches the gathered forces of the Brotherhood of the Scythe on a dangerous mission. They intend to secretly pass through the land of Vulca and infiltrate the Citadel of Thrall, ruining its supplies of food and water, while cutting off all aid from outside. He believes Kuran has taken his forces far away from the Citadel on a futile hunt for the Resistance. But instead, Tag is heading into a trap. Kuran has gathered his entire army, which vastly outnumbers the Brotherhood of the Scythe, and lays in wait along their path through Vulca.