Aidan journeys with Ahlissa and Jillian, to Sunhold, in Kharadia, to repatriate the long-lost bones of King Thalendir. In doing so, he is welcomed among the Aystar and learns about his people and their bloodlines, ultimately training as a warrior to be accepted by them. Aidan faces new trials in the desert while, haunted by visions and terrifying nightmares, he discovers that he bears an abnormal magical mark that is associated with a dark forgotten heritage. New threats emerge and the companions find themselves in a race against rivals to retrieve an ancient artifact from deep beneath Gideon City.