Synopsis: From the Back Cover of the Ace Books First Edition: For centuries, the royal line of Caledon has been the guardian of the Anchorstone, a mysterious - and dangerous - artifact that commands the terrible powers of the Mist. But now, Queen Mhairi of Caledon and her nemesis, King Edwin of Beringar, are summoned to the City of Exile to end the war between their two kingdoms forever. In an unprecedented act of goodwill, Mhairi is prepared to give up possession of the Anchorstone. But the Berings have no such harmonious motives in mind. Their wish is to kill the queen by summoning a demonic force so evil that it could destroy the future of the entire world...