This book is the second in the Young Merlin series and deals with what happened when he lost his first life on the planet Earth. Before Vivien, in the guise of Nimueh, can prevent his transformation, he is taken from his coffin to the spaceship Endeavour. There he becomes the man who steered it through many perilous missions in the service of Asgard, the Keeper of the Universe. Sadly he finds much has changed. Their Captain is an old adversary; they have new recruits and even greater challenges than before, especially in regard to Malinda and the Mercenaries who have escaped from the Dungeons of Delphinus.