Synopsis: A power cleaved, a house divided - Those who dreamed of enslaving a kingdom left a realm abused and shattered. The villains have been vanquished - but the arduous task of restoring stability to the land still remains for noble King Bariden and Chalaine, his beloved queen. And a potent new evil has arisen to challenge their rule - sowing bitter dissension between them with magical illusion, transforming love to hate and trust to suspicion. Only by combining their mystical might can Chalaine and Bariden hope to defeat this insidious threat. But their enemy possesses wizard power stronger than any they have ever encountered - and he delights in toying with their minds, their hearts and their fears. And now the game is over. (from the back cover of the AvoNova Books first edition)