"As the Emerald Queen's shadow lengthens once more across the land of Midkemia, her forces stand ready to launch a devastating invasion. But come the battle's dawn the magician Pug, and his life-long friend Tomas, will discover that something far worse than the Queen's sorcery is afoot. Swords, bows, wits and courage will no longer be enough to defeat the descending plague. For a foul and terrible thing has escaped a devoured world to feed on one consumed by chaos; an insatiable nightmare creature which seeks to own and corrupt the source of life itself. When the final conflict is joined, reptile will stand against man and magician against demon; and those who battle for good must be victorious ... or all is doomed."