The Coadrix has plans to further increase his power at terrible cost to Candarigge, and escaped rebel Ellearne urges Tredegan to start a new rebellion. She convinces him but Tredegan has changed - no longer an idealist, he is twisted by a lust for vengeance. This may jeopardise the rebellion itself...and bring a far worse fate to the world than anything spawned by the Coadrix.