Divided by the hand of fate, Ertz Mintz and Barcello LaVita find themselves on separate paths. Pledged to rescue Baron Bal Pouron's hostage son, Ertz returns to the north. His pilgrimage takes him through blowing snows and biting cold to Crestone City, home to the Legion, a mercenary brotherhood. With their support, if it can be had, he will make for the ghost city of Djarde. As his plans fall apart, Ertz finds himself alone facing death and destruction. To avoid being lost forever, he must find a way to nurture the dying embers of his own humanity. Barcello meanwhile, arrives in the Sunndr city-state of Altimacasa, where the reception is icy-cold. His hope is to coax the Sunndr from their isolation and to enlist them in the battle against the Wiccans. Creigshtane has not been standing idly by however and like his brother Ertz, Barcello must fight like he never has before if he is to survive. Little goes to plan for the pair, and even they cannot avoid tragedy forever. All is not doom and gloom though - romance blossoms and its entanglements make life all the sweeter and death the more poignant.