Lief and the others plan to sneak into the Palace of Del to rescue Dain, who has been kidnapped, but they are attacked by an enemy believed beaten in the Valley of the Lost.
A spy remains undetected among the united seven tribes. Lief is concerned but focuses on the pledging ceremony in hopes that the royal heir will be found.
The group is swept along the River Tor to the City of Tora, where Dain's footsteps lead them through the city walls even though the Grey Guards are following them.
Dain disappears while Lief and the others escape the Maze of the Beast with the sixth gem. While traveling through the forest, the group is watched by an unknown person.
Jasmine rejoins the group on a river boat teeming with pirates and Ols. After the battle, Lief realizes that some of his friends and his belt are missing.
Jasmine leaves a secret code for Lief, which he finds when his group enters a town ransacked by Bandits. Meanwhile, their new companion Dain reveals more about himself as they travel to the Tol River.
Lief and his friends are detained at the Resistance hideout until they're cleared of being the Shadow Lord's Ols. Meanwhile, Jasmine decides to leave the group and travel on her own.
Lief has a nightmare that reveals a door bearing the Shadow Lord's mark after he and his friends drink from the Dreaming Spring on their way to Dread Mountain.
The sorceress Thaegan is revived by the Shadow Lord and vows revenge against Lief, who continues on his journey. Meanwhile, Jasmine has doubts about Francoise.
The Grey Guards continue their pursuit as Lief and the others search for the fourth gem in the Shifting Sands, where they meet Terreocti, the Sand Beast.
Lief and his friends evacuate from the City of Rats. While resting by the Broad River, Lief shares the story of his father and King Endon with Jasmine.
Lief and his friends escape from Noradz hidden in a food wagon that takes them to Tom's store, where they learn that the Shadow Lord rules over Noradz.
Lief and his friends move on toward the next destination after defeating the Thaegan Sorceress, but Lief realizes they are being followed when the belt signals danger and Jasmine gets a bad feeling.
A young warrior sets out to rid his homeland of its evil conqueror. In the opener, Lief and his guardian, Barda, embark on their quest to locate the seven gems necessary to free Deltora from the Shadow Lord.