Twenty years have passed since the events told in The Voyage Of The Jerle Shannara trilogy. Grianne Ohmsford, rescued from oblivion by her brother Bek, has renounced her former life as the evil Ilse Witch, and now serves as the head of a new Druid Council. Her purpose is to defend the Four Lands from anarchy and warfare. But there are those who cannot easily forgive her past actions, and are loathe to follow her leadership. When Griannes enemies cause her to disappear, only a few loyal friends can help her. The dwarf Tagwen; Griannes nephew, Pen Ohmsford; and the Elf Prince, Ahren Elessedil, begin a desperate journey to find Grianne and return her to the Druids keep at Paranor. Pen Ohmsford is descended from the line of Jerle Shannara, the first of the Elven Kings, but his own magic seems small and inadequate when measured against that of his aunts enemies, who will stop at nothing to thwart Pens efforts to rescue his aunt and restore the nascent Druid Council. And there is another danger. An ancient and deadly power has found its way out into the world. If things are not put to rights, the danger to the Four Kingdoms will be immeasurable.