Synopsis: From the back cover of the Del Rey first edition: "The price of magic - Magic had ravaged Caithe since ancient times, striking unpredictably and creating men and women with powers they could neither understand nor control. Only the ritual slaughter of such mad wizards held the land safe from fire and destruction. Yet even in Caithe, some magic was tolerated by the Church and the people, though grudgingly. Long before, the king had been given such powers in a secret, forbidden ritual by a renegade wizard. And so far, his use of them had been beneficial to the kingdom. But how long could he continue, before the powers he had gained turned upon him, to strike him with the horror of madness? Athaya Trelane was not thinking of that, however, as she sat in the dingy tavern. Her thoughts were of herself. For already the first signs of the dread powers were manifesting in her! They were a gift that could not be denied - nor could the awful price!"