Book III of The Obernewtyn Chronicles. The powerful farseeker Elspeth Gordie is sent to Sutrium, seat of the Totalitarian Council that rules the Land to seal an alliance between the secret Misfit community at Obernewtyn and rebel forces. She travels from the Mountains reluctantly, for at any moment the long- awaited summons may come from the oldOnes to find and destroy the dormant weaponmachines left by the Beforetimers. The journey takes her far beyond the borders of the Land, across the seas and into the heart of the mysterious desert region of Sador. Here she discovers she will need help to destroy the weaponmachines. But before her dark quest can begin, Elspeth must learn the truth of her dreams - she must understand why the Beforetimers destroyed their world...Cover art by Les Petersen.