Hightspall is dying. Every year the winters worsen, and the realm's protective magic disappeared with the traitor-king, Lyf, two thousand years ago. Now Lyf is back, bent on wiping Hightspall off the map and rebuilding his ancient land anew. Lyf also killed Tali's mother and now he is hunting Tali, for the master pearl she bears inside her holds the key to saving the realm—or destroying it. Can Tali find Lyf before he tears Hightspall apart? And if she does, can she put aside her quest for vengeance to save her country? Or will Lyf cut the pearl from her and use its magic to plunge her world into perpetual darkness?