One would think that Calder Cove's children, along with their parents, would be reluctant to have anything to do with Merlin's School after the adventure of The Ring of Curses. But there is a strange and powerful force that surrounds the place and this force seems to remove all hesitancy. Once again invites are eventually dispatched, finding selected children waiting eagerly to gain entrance to the fortified institution. This year though, Bridget Lincoln, Tilderly Davis and some of their friends become savvy to a dangerous scheme about the retrieval of a magical stone and a sword. Everyone feels safe enough about their involvement - or lack thereof - until Bridget and Tilderly, along with three other students, stumble through a portal. Unfortunately, it is not an easy thing to return to the school, for it disappears into the mists of time leaving everyone trapped inside another dimension. There they meet several witches, and archer and a shape-shifting cat. They are also informed that they are part of a prophecy - one that calls them the Sword Seekers - and that is what they must do ... find a sword. Pursued by an assortment of Ogres, Goblins and Trolls, the children must make tracks to Grave's End; the last known resting place of this mysterious and much coveted weapon.