In , Book 9 and the thrilling conclusion to the action-packed fantasy series , Thomas Kestrel and his Marchers have freed the Highlands, but the evil of the Shadow Lord continues to spread. As the Dark Horde marches for the Breaker, Thomas must not only rally his allies for the final battle between the Shadow Lord's army of Ogren and Shades, but also prepare himself for a fate from which he can't escape. Rather than make peace with his destiny, Thomas convinces the Sylvan Warriors to take the fight to the Shadow Lord, knowing that it's only a matter of time before the Dark Horde overruns the Breaker and floods the Kingdoms with a never-ending darkness.