
Threatened under pain of death by Nysander to keep his quest a secret even from his loyal companion, Alec, Seregil is dispatched to find the last missing piece of the Helm so that he and Nysander can destroy it. Nysander holds the cup and Mardus the wooden disks – one of which was responsible for Seregil's coma – but the crown must still be located. But this cup, combined with a crystal crown and some wooden disks, forms the Helm of Seriamaius, and any mortal donning the reconstructed Helm will become the incarnation of the god on earth. In a secret, silver-lined room hidden well beneath the Oreska, he has served for most of his 300 years as the keeper of a nondescript clay cup. Seregil's friend and Mentor, the wizard Nysander, has long been the guardian of a deadly secret. Now, an ancient prophecy points to his continuing role in the quest to stop Mardus in his dread purpose. The early attempts at this reincarnation – masterminded by the sinister Duke Mardus and his sorcerous minion Vargul Ashnazai – once left Seregil in a sorcerous coma. The Plenimarans, at war with Skalans, have decided to defeat their ancient enemy by raising up the Dead God, Seriamaius. With the Leran threat laid to rest, Alec and Seregil are now able to turn their attention to the ancient evil which threatens their land.
