On Zendar, a world of torrential downpours and soaring reed trees, Andar, a common reedsmith, struggles with the death of his wife, his rebellious son, and the burgeoning womanhood of his daughter. When his family is attacked by Suru, a group of assassins, fear and indecision cripple the former council guard who is once again drawn into the life that he willing left many years ago; the life of a warrior. Behind the attack are two men, each with their own hidden agenda. One seeks revenge over love lost, the other, secrets from Zendar's past. Soon Andar becomes a pawn in their deadly game. His faith in life and the goodness of humanity is tested as he becomes hardened and embittered outside the safety of his small village. When Andar discovers the frightening chapter in Zendar's history that his enemies have unearthed, he realizes that much more is at stake than the lives of his family. Tempered by people and events thrust upon him, Andar accepts that he must confront the horror of the past, for it threatens the future of not only his children, but his entire world.