Book Three of the Malloreon.
Garion, Belgarath and their friends follow the quest begun in 'Guardians of the West' and continued in 'King of the Murgos'. It will lead them further into the dark designs of Zandramas and the strange ways of demons . . .
The company now know that Garion's baby son has been kidnapped by Zandramas and is to be used in a terrible ritual which will make the Dark Destiny supreme. The group, however, has been detained by Zakath, Emperor of all Mallorea, and taken to Mal Zeth, the largest city in the world.
When a dire plague strikes, they manage to escape and, as prophesied by the Seeress of Kell, travel on to Ashaba - but, although they find Urvon, mad disciple of the evil god Torak, and the Demon Lord Nahaz, Zandramas is gone. In a desperate race against time, the company turns east once more to follow her spoor . . .
