Errol and his fellow adventurers return from their bloody excursion to Merakh, grieving their losses and weighed down by a prophecy of the lots: either Errol or his companion Liam will die in the struggle to come. Immediately, the entire party is taken into the custody of Duke Weir's men, the duke having usurped the regency of the kingdom of Illustra from Errol's friend Princess Adora.