It has been twelve hundred years since the demons and their allies destroyed the last zdrell master, the only kind of wizard who could challenge their mastery of the world. Master Silurian, though not a zdrell master himself, has been fighting demon magic all his considerable life and hoping against hope that a new zdrell master would enter the world.

Now as the demons and their wizards are nearly ready take over the continent and cement their hold over the entire human race, Jonny is discovered by Silurian, a boy, who untutored is able to manipulate magic like the zdrell masters of old. Can Silurian train this boy and keep him alive long enough for him to become a new zdrell master before the demons sweep the continent and gain control of the entire world?

Traveling anonymously after killing a demon wizard, Eril, journeyman wizard and the only living wielder of Zdrell has to keep moving. If the demon wizards him, they will stop at nothing to kill him and remove Zdrell again from the world. Eril needs time to master his magic and grow to manhood.

Jelnick, the ruler of Grimor and soon the whole world is close to his ultimate goal, removing the last opposition to demons and demon wizards controlling the world -- Zdrell. Now he must now accelerate his plans and commit precious resources to try and find a new line-cutter artifact and a new Zdrell wizard. The demons demand action, and he will commit resources, even his precious charzen super-men to hunt down this threat.

Eril needs time to learn and grow into his talent, but will Jelnick and the other demon wizards give him enough before he must confront them and risk all?