Second in 'The Watchers' trilogy, the prequel to 'The Circle And The Cross'.
The Watchers, Isleen and Lochie, are certain they can be released from the enchantment that has bound their spirits to the Earth for countless generations. Their plan is to provoke Dalan, a wise Brehon judge, into helping them. To this end they are stirring up as much trouble as they can throughout the island.
Dalan has found a way to rid the land of these two meddling spirits but the cost is high. He decides to make the sacrifice and save his homeland from the impending war. He enlists the help of Saoirse, a Druid-woman and Brocan, the King of the Fir-Bolg. Together they devise a plan to capture the Watchers and prevent any further devastation of the island
But Lochie and Isleen are marking every move, take the King of the Fir-Bolg prisoner, kill his supporters and scatter his people to the corners of the land. The once powerful warrior king is now mockingly known as the "King of Sleep".