It was dark; the air was suffocating, smothering and oppressive. Heavy, laboured breathing could be heard - his own - and somewhere behind, the sound of a pursuer..... Abruptly the walls opened out and he rolled forward and lay prostrate, exhausted, spent. He rolled over. Piercing red eyes looked down into his and a sinister voice whispered "so, you have returned have you, boy?" A month has passed since Paul was in Elenair but after an accident he returns to find that eight years have passed there. His head injury means that he cannot remember where he is from or who he is. The people of Elenair have become suspicious and fearful so Paul, as a stranger, is called before the Council of Elders to answer for himself. It is his old friend Gaius who accounts for him and helps him to remember who he really is. Together they are sent out by Erendor on a new quest; to rescue their friend Joy, a talking horse, who has been stolen by Elevion's new workers, the Sendom and to stop their old foe Elevion poisoning the land. Before Paul can go home he also has to reclaim a personal item stolen from him by Elevion.