Garion and his companions continue their desperate search for Zandramas, the Child of Dark and abductor of Garion's baby son, Geran. Led by the orb from Mallorea to the island of Melcena, they discover the place where the Sardion once rested and also find Senji, a self-taught wizard whose undamaged copy of the Ashabine oracles carries a message for Garion from the evil god Torak. As Zandramas's intention to fulfil the Dark Destiny becomes clear, Garion and his friends know that they must travel to Kell. There they will discover from the Mallorean Gospels the truth of their ultimate destination, The Place Which Is No More. But the friends are not alone in their search as the prophecies of Cyradis, the Seeress of Kell, begin to be fulfilled.