An ancient fortress of the Khadzarians, Khalzhestok is now the home of their leader, the morikhun Zorsten whose depravity and sadism terrifies even his minions. It is into the depths of Khalzhestok's foul dungeons that the heroes of the novel, the wizard Aleksandor, his mentor the mage Daiman, and the renegade morikhun Sebastian must venture to duel with Zorsten and try to strike a crippling blow to the war that is on the verge of engulfing all Llandwellyn.