Darkness Gains will see the Serpent, working with Noctiferus's other creatures, deal crippling blows to the Alvinorians, in the air, on the ground, and in the Bind. Toras puts new methods to the test; High Prince Aithen begins to feel the crushing weight of the war on his shoulders; Elyana Lux Baiula forces the hand of a traitor; The Umbra crosses the sea to seek allies in support of Zebula's invasion of Alvinoria; The Locari convene the Mind to discuss their involvement in the affairs of the Humans; And unsuspected forces descend on Kynaria, where the queen-consort and her son, young prince Ori, had taken refuge.