As civil war begins, the high elven Vaelinar see their power bases being torn apart as the magical Ways they have created begin to disintegrate. In the midst of the conflict, Sevryn and Rivergrace are pulled from each other, forced to follow separate pathways as they fight against possession by goddess and demon alike. Accused of high treason by the warrior queen Lariel, Rivergrace’s only allies are her Dweller sister and the most mysterious of all Vaelinar Ways—the Dark Ferryman.