Description
This story deals with the loss of a holy icon, called "The Home Stone."
Shannon must find this man because he is the only person who entered the land of the Valcorans, (a warrior-like race made up of females and live on one of the islands called, the Dragon Isles). She travels takes her across the Crags, desert, and the eastern forest to find this man called Brendan O'Hearn. The trip is not without its dangers as she escapes the troll mountain city of Agru, after freeing Brendan from certain death, with Marrak, the son of the captain of the jail where Brendan was being kept. They then find the desert just as dangerous with giant desert rats stalking them as they near a dried-out oasis, where she was supposed to replenish the waterskins. Now she finds herself in need to travel north to a city called Hakkon. A desert city made up of thieves and cutthroats. There she meets a troll called Soukar who leads her out of the city and to the eastern forest. From there she and Brendan have to make it to his cabin on the coast of the Eastern Sea. There they find Sean, Brendan's son captured by forest trolls. After freeing Sean, the three make their way south in Brendan's boat to Evermore, the capital of the elves' land called Maitland.
Meanwhile, Kirin, an elf of a high ranking and in love with Shannon, makes his way east to Evermore. Close to his destination, they are attacked and a poison arrow wounds one of his friends. Now the race is on to get Dreen, his friend to the healers in Evermore. Dreen does recover but is too weak to join Kirin so Ashley, who was always in love with the elf and jealous of Shannon, asks to go along. They all, except Shannon sail in with Brendan and his son.
Fighting rough seas and paddling against the stream upriver, they arrive at the base of a ring of mountains that encircle a large lake and lush green forest. Here they search and find the village of Valcore. The party begins to climb through a rough pass to get to the forest on the other side. Once there they search and find the village. Donning their cloaks of invisibility they enter the village and find that the icon is not there. Risking detection they leave the village and send in a messenger to meet with the queen of the Valcorans. The rest of the party is invited into the village and the truth about Brendan's escape is found out. It is now known that Sean is the son of the queen and Brendan and that he escaped the island when Sean was only a baby. Not wanting to create an incident both sides agree to come back to Evermore and let the High Council decide what is to be done with the rogue and his son.
Shannon's friend, Roma, must go and find a Drow elf named Brianna, who has been given the knowledge on how to repair or replenish the holy icon. She is to find her and bring her back the Rogalandt, to the tower of Sanctum where the clerics hold all the tomes and histories of Aan, but her journey, which begins in Caldor, (the land of the dwarfs) is wrought with danger. Not only are the Drow elves fierce warriors, but also they do not socialize with strangers. Roma is also being stalked by four warrior women dressed as Valcorans. In truth, they are soldiers of the northern tribes called the Snow Barbarians. She has to outrun the warriors and then sail south to some islands and find the Drow. They are not easily found, for they have hidden well and surrounded their land with creatures that prey on man and other animals. Being totally alone once she reaches the island Roma has to use all her wits just to stay alive. Then she is taken prisoner by the dark elves and brought to their underground city. There she is taken before their magistrate where she is given a chance to explain why she is there. After telling her story she is put back into her cell and has to wait for a verdict to see if she is telling the truth. Soon after Roma is once more brought in front of the magistrate only to find out that they didn't believe her.