Balladir is the thirteenth Bard of the Elves. He bears responsibility for gathering and sharing tales that will enrich the cultural wealth of his people. This volume recounts the history of his voyage to Lagar, home of the Dwarves, where he finds an island invaded by a force from the neighbouring Starlands, a force which threatens not only to divide and overwhelm the Dwarven people, but to herald the arrival of something far worse.

Together with a handful of strangers, Balladir's skills with magic, music and blade will be called upon to aid the Dwarves. But who among this small group can be trusted? And how will Balladir balance the Dwarves' needs against his own ability to survive the political and religious turmoil erupting around them? With powerful allies on one side and violent betrayals on the other, Balladir will learn the world stretches wider and holds more secrets than the Bards before him had ever realised.