Synopsis: From the front flap of the Grafton first printing: "As the Accursed sweep through the ruins of the doomed city of Elsinfaer, their terrifying cry rings out, 'The Firelord's heir must be slain.' The object of their wrath is Ivainson Jaric, Keeper of the Keys, the Firelord's heir. The sacred duty placed by Stormwarden on Firelord has now passed to his son, and Jaric must guard the keys that keep the Mharg-demons bound. Jaric had hoped to avoid his duty and pass the keys back to their maker, but now he must become a trained sorcerer and embrace the Cycle of Fire - the mastery of which consumed the Firelord's soul, drove him insane and led him to betray his own people. Will the same fate befall Jaric - or will he be master?"