"An island king has a son and a son; in his father's heart the second is one. The first is first in the heart of the mother; to favor the first she betrays the other... The Staff of Terianh he then will wield, for all the world with which to shield. Vanaratu knows where it is hidden. The second will seek, for it is bidden. Eight will give of what they have for the second to gain the Eagle Staff..." Nikal of Nant faces the portents of a Prophecy from the Etoppsi female Dragonfighter, Rainwing. The lost Eagle Staff of Terianh the Great is the means to confront the growing magic of the Khans of the Khestadone, and Nikal has been chosen to wield it. Elder brother Lekktor, jealous of Nikal's fame and favor with the king their father and of his love for the beautiful Dira, schemes with their mother against him. Having traveled to the magnificent city of Tirilorin, the handsome twins, Lyndz and Kodi, find themselves the center of the social scene. Kodi is befriended by the spoiled but talented Tiliruf, scion of the last emperor, and begins training with a master swordsman. Lyndz discovers her magical Gift through her own Meicalian Vision, yet she and Mother Idamé are required by the Guardian to keep their assigned task secret. In the meantime, Sage Curdoz must convince the Republic to join in the war against the Khans. Rainwing and Royal Hawking fly Nikal to Tirilorin with news of the Khestadone attack on the Berugian border and to meet others proclaimed in the Prophecy. The World God, Vanaratu, then leads them all on a dangerous journey by ship to recover the Eagle Staff. Modela, immortal Mother of All, demands eight great sacrifices before she is willing to hand it over. In Companions in Prophecy, second in the series, Heirs to the Taxiarch, new friendships work to combat temptation, struggle, loss, and heartbreak.