Back in Semadon with the forest's relic, Ceera Kestlyn is determined to find meaning within its cryptic text. But when High Service, led by the corrupt Draevik Warlyn, ends her study, she is devastated...and skeptical. Not only does it remain unclear why the strange woman from her dreams alerted her to the relic's existence, but the book emanates a mysterious power only a fool would deny. Influenced by an allusive dream, she views the relic in secret and realizes she misinterpreted a passage, one that urgently pertains to now. If she doesn't take the relic to its rightful place within the depths of a cave, she will die, and the Archaics-tricky, mischievous, yet useful demi-gods-will become mortal. Ceera must convince High Service to let her and Dassius Rucien-her lover on the Sci-Defense team-return the relic she worked so hard to collect. But standing up to Draevik will endanger her, for his plan to exploit the relic's power values progress over people...