The action of this volume of the Chronicles takes place just before that of The Wizards and the Warriors. The young Sean Kelebes Sarazin, returning to Selzirk after a long period as a hostage, expects to play a major role in the city where his mother, Farfalla, is the kingmaker. But his hopes are rudely dashed: his comfortable life as a hostage had left him ill-prepared for a life of war, intrigue and wizardry, and in the event, acquiring power proved rather more complicated than he imagined. Nevertheless, he has a vision: he sees himself as the legendary figure of prophecy, Watashi, and sets out to make that vision come true.
The action of this volume of the Chronicles takes place just before that of The Wizards and the Warriors. The young Sean Kelebes Sarazin, returning to Selzirk after a long period as a hostage, expects to play a major role in the city where his mother, Farfalla, is the kingmaker. But his hopes are rudely dashed: his comfortable life as a hostage had left him ill-prepared for a life of war, intrigue and wizardry, and in the event, acquiring power proved rather more complicated than he imagined. Nevertheless, he has a vision: he sees himself as the legendary figure of prophecy, Watashi, and sets out to make that vision come true.