It has been 13 years since Black, and the Forest Guard is slowing being defeated by the Horde. Thomas Hunter is forced to lower the recruiting age from 18 to 16 in order to find enough troops to train for his armies. Of those recruits, four are chosen to become squad leaders.

In this second volume, Johnis begins a desperate search for his mother--who he now believes is alive and being held captive by the Horde. His desire to find her is so strong that he loses focus on his greater mission of locating the missing Books of History. Can both goals be accomplished? Or will Johnis lose the books they already have in the process?