Synopsis: The Dragon of Mishbil. The trouble with the city of Mishbil was water, for the city got its life from the waters of the Dragon, and the Dragon was under an enchantment. Zargas was the Shan King's viceroy in Mishbil and called upon the great magician Xerlanthor to set the Dragon right. Xerlanthor, however, had schemes of his own - and besides was not much on hydromancy. So when he set the Dragon wild and Zaryas saw her city going underwater, she realized this would cost her her head! As for Xerlanthor, his double-game was working out just fine - for a black magician! But in the land of Averidan, nothing works out the way it is planned, especially under the high fantasy reign of the Crystal Crown! (from the back cover of the DAW Books first edition)