The great seer Ageus Mortaan foretold the coming of the Age of Darkness, the rise to power of the forces of evil, and the extermination of the civilized races: humans, elves, and dwarves. Nick Mirrin, in his attempt to forestall the prophecy, has lost loved ones, but some of his ragged company survive, including Zen, the ice mage, and Jasmine, the demon-kin monk. As the Age of Prophecy saga continues, Nick and his friends escape the clutches of the king of Trondor. Together they flee into the uncharted expanse of the Wild Lands, seeking a talisman that will enable them to stand against the Dark Master of Mortaan's Prophecy. Every step of the way, they're pursued: by the Chosen of the Master; by mercenaries hired by the king; by their old nemeses, the Black Hand bandits; and by demons specifically designed to be relentless hunters and extraordinary assassins. Nick's hopes give way to doubt and his gambits become ever more desperate as he and his friends become Assassins' prey.