When Raven’s foster parents are murdered and she is betrayed by those she should have been able to trust, Raven disappears from all knowledge, promising herself that she will never return. Then, a loved and trusted teacher of hers is trapped in a mind-torturing spell of the dark mages and Raven returns to free him from it. In doing so, she is forced to reveal her return, aggravating the quarrel between the light and dark mages, both of whom want Raven’s allegiance. But Raven has no intention of choosing either side. Instead she means to fulfill a quest of her own, a quest so dark in purpose that she does not dare to share it with anyone, especially those she loves most. But the gods, too, will have a say in what she does, and even Raven, daughter of the dragons, does not know what the gods have in mind.

Excerpt from the book:

Deep within the bowels of the earth, Ocis watched as a bright purplish glow appeared over the small island that sat in the exact center of a large underground lake. His black wraith’s eyes could have easily seen in the total dark that one would have expected this deep within the earth, but this very unusual cavern was completely lit with a soft yellow light. Ocis knew that no one had ever been able to determine the source of the light and this caused him distinct discomfort every time he was required to be here. The wraith glowered malevolently as Geoffry stepped from the portal, casually brushing some dust or speck from his velvet cloak as if the mage were completely unconcerned with what lay before them.

"If Raven is successful, all of our wonderful work will be destroyed," the wraith snarled with a smoldering anger.

"Do not worry so, Ocis. She will not be." Geoffry smiled confidently, turning his eyes to examine the source of all this trouble. In the center of the perfectly round island, another maze had been deeply carved into the island’s rock surface. In the maze’s center stood a large obsidian pedestal and upon it a simple, slightly concave lamp, also carved from obsidian. Legend held that its width was twice the length of a grown man’s arm with ancient runes carved into its bowl, but none now living had been able to get close enough to the Lamp to say whether this was true.

Geoffry knew that traps lay along the intricate and complex path of the maze around the Lamp. Traps that would destroy the careless or mistaken. In the centuries that it had been dark, it was said that many had sought the correct route through the maze with the thought of destroying the Lamp so that no one could ever relight it. All had died horribly in their attempts and, to Geoffry’s knowledge, no one had tried while Cloptha ruled. Geoffry wondered if even Raven could find the pathway through the maze and he chuckled heartily, If anyone could do so, it would be Raven.

The island itself was a massive chunk of obsidian. There was no doubt in Geoffry’s mind that the island was not natural. Other than the maze and pedestal, its surface was flat and even. Not a blemish anywhere marred its smooth, shiny surface and so it made for treacherous footing, adding to the danger of this place.

"What do you wish from me, Master." Ocis kept his glowering eyes obediently cast downward.

Geoffry strode purposefully towards the wraith. "I sent you to capture Raven once before and you failed me, Ocis." Geoffry’s staff was held in what Ocis considered a menacing position. "Instead of the punishment that I had intended, I am going to give you one, and only one, more opportunity. I want you to find Raven and bring her here to me."

"At once, Master." Ocis started to spread his wings wide.

"And Ocis," Geoffry’s rich voice held a menacing purr, "it will not go well with you if you do not return with her."

Unnoticed, a hooded figure stood in the deeper shadows against the cavern wall. Even though he was on the other side of the lake, he had easily overheard what Geoffry had said. Very well, then, Orknillas' thoughts were pleased, let us see what Geoffry can accomplish. His dark eyes darted over to meet pointed eyes near his feet.

"If he fails, then you will call the others," Orknillas spoke softly, not wishing for his words to echo through the cavern as Geoffry’s had done. The pointed eyes slowly blinked once as the creature nodded its head.