Jewel Ranson and her father are travelling traders. When her father is attacked and killed by mysterious assailants at a local fair, Jewel vows to avenge his murder. Befriended by Rainy Gill, a travelling juggler, they set off in pursuit of his killers. On their journey, Jewel discovers that a strange power is awakening in her and, in a notorious gambling den, becomes embroiled in a grisly wager . . .
Returning with a stolen crystal from a ritual test to mark his coming of age, Thorn Jack discovers his younger sister has been abducted. With the enigmatic Racky Jagger as his guide, Thorn sets out to trail her kidnappers through the heart of the mysterious Judy Wood. Many dangerous encounters lie ahead of him . . .
As Jewel and Thorn move towards a momentous meeting, dark forces gather around them. And the ruby crystal stolen by Thorn begins to take on a significance he couldn't possible have imagined . . .
