Something brings death and devastation to Nesht, then vanishes into the mountains. Ring-Witches Mayra and Wolfe join forces with Mayra’s Reever clan to investigate. How can something destroy villages and kill people yet leave behind riches? A powerful, unseen presence connects with Mayra, talks to her, and enables her feel her magic as nothing ever before has —even sending her flying! She learns this dragon is the leader of those attacking, but when she questions the presence, it sends her mind-rending pain, then, truly anguished, it begs for forgiveness. When Mayra finds a massive talon, she and Wolfe realize dragonshave returned to Nesht. Their first instinct is to hide the knowledge from her clan, for she has no doubt they’ll seek the dragons and atack them. Despite trying to ignore the voice in her head, it brings her pain again and again, until her warlord sees her and demands to know what’s happening. Mayra and Wolfe learn other witches are also feeling contact with the dragons, and by now, it’s clear these aren’t the dragons of the past—those altruistic dragons who created the life-altering Enhancement Rings that all Ring-Witches must earn. These dragons are enraged about something, and appear to be ready to battle humans. But are they? When Mayra figures out it’s not the dragons killing, but vicious, blue humans, forcing the dragons to act as their messengers, the battle is on. Why won't their leader tell Mayra why the dragons are compelled to help the savages? These dragons desperately need the witch’s help, for Marya has learned there are some causes even mighty dragons will die for. And Mayra and Wolfe have little time to uncover that cause.