Aljan, the black unicorn battle prince, parlays with the gryphons in the Vale. When the gryphons depart, Korr, Aljan's father, and King openly critizes his son for parlaying with former enemies. When Aljan's dam, Ses, and Tek's mother, Jah-lila, come to his defence, Korr flees the Vale. Aljan follows leaving his mate, Tek, in charge of the herd. Aljan follows his father healing all the wounds that were inficted by Korr. His journy brings him to a group of unicorns know to the Vale dwellers as "Renegades". There he meets an old friend, a unicorn mare named, Crimson, who take him to her uncle, Clayador, whose name means "Summer Stars". Clayador listens as Aljan tells of his journey and quest.
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Meanwhile in the Vale, Tek, waits for Aljan's return. Her son and daughter, Aiony and Dhatter, watch Aljan's journey telling their mother what happens.
Clayador takes Aljan to the Salt Wastland where Korr was last seen. The black unicorn takes his leave of Clayador and explores the Salt Wastland. He finds his father fighting a snake. He tries to save Korr but fails. Korr dies but with his final breath he reveals a devestating secret that could mean the end of Aljan's relationship with Tek. He leaves his father's body and wonders lost on the wastland.
Then he reaches the Smokey Hills. There he meets Oral, a descendent of one the Scouts of Halla. Oral takes Aljan to the great hall of Whispers and there the black unicorn tells his tale of his people. When he finishes the dragon queen invites him to come down to speak with him. He goes to the deepest levels of the Smokey Hills. He meets the dragon face to face and foresees the future.
In the Vale Tek and all the unicorns depart to the Hallow Hills. On the way, they meet Clayador and other plainsdwellers. The two tribes unite and race to the Hallow Hills.
Aljan fears for what he sees. He overthrows his fear of what may happen if he is united with Tek. With great respect the dragon queen takes him to the Hallowed Hills.
At the Hallowed Hills a furious battle was raging. Unicorns and wyverns lay dead or wounded. Tek and her band were about to be overwhelmed when Oral and the Scouts of Halla appear and begin striking down wyverns. Unknown to all, Lell had followed the company and is preparing for her part in the battle. Now only the wyvern king remains. He and Tek face off in a duel to the death. All but three heads are dead. Tek lies on the ground wounded. Suddenly Lell jumps out of nowhere and throws a burning stick into the wyvern king's face. Blinded the king roars and grabs at the young frilly.
Tek's mother rescues her daughter as the two face each other. Lell kills one head and tries to escape but the wyvern catches her and draggs her into a wall of fire. Then in a flash of green, Illisher, a gryphon attacks the wvyern king, killing another head in the process. Illisher then bears Lell up into the sky. But the flames that were on her spread to Illisher. Soon they are a flaming torch in the sky until they fall from it. The dragon queen appears and takes the wvyern as her own and leaves Aljan with his people.
The review of this Book prepared by Ross Dochoda