After the fall of Cyador, its survivors have reestablished themselves in Cigoerne, a fertile country coveted by neighbors in less hospitable lands. Young Lerial, the second son of Duke Kiedron, lives in the shadow of his older brother Lephi, the heir to their father's realm. Lerial's future seems set: He will one day command his brother's forces in defense of Cigoerne, serving at his older sibling's pleasure. But when Lerial is sent abroad to learn the skills and wisdom he will need to fulfill his future duties, he begins a journey that brings out his true potential: He is one of those rare beings who can harness both Order and Chaos. And as war finally engulfs the fringes of Cigoerne, Lerial's growing mastery of Order and Chaos is tested to its limits, and his own.