Ruarshi Illyana, an itinerant sorcerer-physician from the far northern land of Miriyan, is completely content with his life-right up until the day a shocking act of violence changes his future forever. His response to the incident puts him at odds with his former mentor, a cabal of scheming Europeans, an angry exiled warrior, and the most powerful Seer of his generation, among others. Somehow he has to deal with all of this opposition while still struggling to come to terms with his rare, and not entirely welcome, magical talents.Fortunately he has a small but solid group of allies to accompany him along the hazardous path he has chosen: Wil, the sardonic Welshman who saved his life shortly after he arrived in Europe, Slan, the warrior with whom he shares an unbreakable bond, Etienne, his resourceful apprentice, Lorion and Karoli, the friends whose fates become irreversibly entwined with Ruarshi's own, and Davyt, his son.Together Ruarshi and his companions embark on a journey that takes them from the Holy Roman Empire to the Italian city-states, to smoky guest houses and clan halls, and to an ancient center of sorcerous power-where they confront at last the mystery that lies at the source of Miriyanti magic.