Synopsis: After Glenna and Keiff find their magic weapons in the dread desert (see The Witch's Apprentice) and help the King's Witch, Cassie, destroy the evil undergod UuTat, they return to Keiff's homeland. There they defeat his uncle who had usurped the throne. Now Keiff's younger brother is to be crowned king. But at the ceremony, someone steals one of the enchanted swords from MidMountain, the center of all magic in the world, causing an imbalance that will destroy magic forever. Keiff and Glenna ride in pursuit of the thief, not knowing what terrible trials and torture await them. Between them — the witch and the shapechanger — they wield powers beyond mortal ken, but will it be enough?