Once the tiny village of Errold's Grove, located on the border of
Valdemar at the edge of the vast Pelagiris Forest, had been a
prosperous community, trading the unique plants and fungi which grew in
the dense forest for use in dying textiles. But that was before the
mage-storms came.
The mage-storms had devastated the forest, transforming many of its
creatures into kideous beasts, warping the very land, and shattering
the laws of magic which had governed the world since time immemorial.
Only the bravest souls ventured into the Pelagiris now, but young
Darian and his parents were among those courageous few.
Darian's parents were hunters who worled in the strange new forest with
intelligence and caution, trapping the bizarre change-creatures which
had been created by the mage-storms and selling their fantastic hides.
But Darian had not accompanied them on their last expedition into the
Pelagiris, a hunt from which they never returned.
Now a year after his parents' disappearance, Darian is a ward
of Errold's Grove, apprenticed to Wizard Justyn, a bumbling old man who
lost most of his powers when the world's magic altered. Justyn insists
that Darian has "talent," and that he will be a danger to himself and
everyone around him if he isn't properly trained. But to Darian, still
sorrowing over his parents' loss, magic is just nonsense, a waste of
time and energy. The only place he finds solace is in the "dreaded"
forest, where he can hide among the huge trees and mourn in privacy.
And it is from this secret retreat on the edge of the Pelagiris
that Darian sees an army of northern barbarians sack and burn Errold's
Grove, and watches his mentor Justyn die in a last desperate attempt to
save the village.
Pursued by barbarians, alone and helpless, Darian flees into
the deep forest. But the vast and dangerous Pelagiris Forest houses
more than the monstrous creatures created by the mage-storms. The
Hawkbrothers, an old and magical race, dwell in the ancient woods, and
Darian's flight will lead him on a path of discovery which neighter
Justyn nor his parents could ever have predicted.
