Marek is a street urchin cheating and gambling his way through the streets of King Bel's city. He has also gained exceptional notoriety for his fighting skills-despite being born blind. One night while out with his jet-black mongrel, Bright, he cheats a large brute named Sellard, a member of a corrupt aristocratic family. The captain of the king's guard advises Marek to leave town before things escalate. But as he is saying good-bye to his surrogate mother, he is promptly captured. Marek now faces certain death, as he stands accused of magic before the Taken, silent warriors who see into a person's soul. Meanwhile, Princess Selena, reluctantly betrothed to Sellard, schemes to flee from the city with the unexpected help of Bright. As Marek heads for the gallows, Selena unwittingly helps him escape, and together they race toward the wilds until Selena is forced to give herself up to save innocent lives. To rescue Selena, Marek must come to terms with shocking revelations about his past, present, and future. For fans of David Eddings, is a compelling fantasy adventure about the nature of destiny.