Vatar risked his life to try to save his friend--and failed. Now he has an implacable enemy in the vengeful shaman, who blames Vatar for the death of his only son. In his isolation, Vatar finds some comfort in daydreams. He knows the strange girl he sometimes imagines is just that--a dream. She'd better be. Because, if she's real things could get even worse for Vatar. The accepted magic of Vatar's plains tribe wouldn't allow him to see or communicate with a girl he doesn't even know--or know where to find. That would be more like the magic passed down in certain, closely-guarded bloodlines among the ruling class of the coastal cities. And that's bad. Very bad. Unlike their own, Vatar's people think the city magic is evil. If the shaman ever found out, it could be the weapon he needs to destroy Vatar. And yet, finding a way to accept the other side of his heritage may be the only way Vatar can ultimately defeat his enemy. The two kinds of magic have always been totally separate. Until now.