A prequel to Ironbrand. The child who died is the king who will be. The king who died will slay the king who would be. The son of 3 mothers will father 3 sons, and with their hands on his blood they will shake the world when they are dead and gone to dust. Thus was foretold the coming of King Ambescand. To Graymantle, a mighty warrior in service to Lord Duarin, the words of the prophecy were no more understandable than the gibberings of the southern nomads. He was more interested in living a good, simple life with his family. Graymantle's fate was bound to the fate of Ambescand, for he was Ambescand - and he did not know it...