The elven race, driven from their age-old enclaves in the greenwoods, have crossed the Plains of Dust and harsh mountains into the distant land of Khur--the desert kingdom of sun, sand, and silence. Confined to a sprawling tent city under the walls of Khuri-Khan, they must forget past glories and fight to survive. But more than the hard-edged desert is against them. Shadowy forces inside Khur and out plot to destroy the elves. Some are ancient and familiar. Others are new and unknown.
At the head of the reunited Qualinesti and Silvanesti hands is Gilthas, now Speaker of the Sun and Stars. Though given a united rule, he has no crown, no throne, no marble hall--yet the blood of Kith-Kanan flows in his veins, and he's no longer the despised Puppet King. At his side, the fiery Kerianseray, bane of the Dark Knights, and known forever as the Lioness. To her falls the task of forging a new elven army, one that can safeguard the refugees and dream of taking back their lost homeland. But Kerianseray's chief opponent is not the legion of minotaurs plundering Silvanost, or the army of Dark Knights. Her true opponent is much closer to her head and her heart.
And so the battle lines are drawn, and the great game begins. Survival or death, glory or oblivion--these are the stakes. Gilthas and Kerianseray stake all on a forgotten map, faithful friends, and their unshakable faith in the greatness of the elven race.