A dozen years of peace have passed in the city
of White Gryphon - providing well deserved and much needed security for
the people who had lost their homes in the magical Cataclysm which
killed the Mage Urtho, creator of the gryphons. But the inhabitants of
White Gryphon have not forgotten their long struggles, and have trained
an elite guard force, the Silver Gryphons, to protect their city, and
if necessary, to join with the army of the black Kings for mutual
defense.
Skandranon Rashkae, the Black Gryphon, and Amberdrake the Healer,
leaders of the community, have settled into quiet, comfortable lives,
happy to raise their families and bask in the remembered glory of
bygone days. But life is not as idyllic for the offspring of these
famous heroes. Amberdrake's rebellious daughter Windsong wants nothing
to do with her father's profession. It embarrasses her even to think of
knowing people's innermost thoughts and feelings. Despite her parents'
concern, she has changed her name to Silverblade and joined the Silver
Gryphons. Tadrith, one of Skandranon's twin sons, feeling smothered by
parental love, and desperate to escape from the shadow of his father's
fame, has also made the decision to join the Silvers.
After two years of rigorous training, Blade and Tad are finally
given their first solo assignment. They are to man a remote guardpost
at the northernmost edge of the lands claimed by White Gryphon. It will
be a long duty, and even reaching the post may prove difficult as a
vast, wild, and largely unexplored territory lies between them and
their goal. Still, everything seems auspicious as Tad sets off into the
air, hauling Blade and a full complement of supplies in a
magic-assisted, and therefore nearly weightless, carry barge. But three
days out from White Gryphon disaster strikes - all of Tad's magic, both
natural and augmented, simply disappears. Borne down by the actual
weight of the barge, Tad plummets helplessly to the ground. Lost and
badly injured, the desperate partners take stock of their situation -
all of their spell-fueled equipment, including their only means of
communication, is inoperable, drained of all magic. But their troubles
are just beginning, for someone or something is stalking them. And in
the dark of the tropical rain forest which surrounds them waits a
nameless terror which even their fathers could never have envisioned.
