From the far reaches of the D'Haran Empire, Bishop Hannis Arc and the ancient Emperor Sulachan lead a vast horde of Shun-Tuk and other depraved "half-people" into the Empire's heart, raising an army of the dead in order to threaten the world of the living. Meanwhile, far from home, Richard Rahl and Kahlan Amnell must defend themselves and their followers from a series of terrifying threats, despite a magical sickness that depletes their strength and which, if not cured, will take their lives...sooner rather than later.

漢尼斯‧阿爾克大祭司跟古代皇帝蘇拉強從第哈朗帝國的遙遠地帶率領一大群湘土克人與其他邪惡的「半人」進入該帝國中心，募集死人組成軍隊，揚言威脅活人世界，於此同時，遠離家園的理查‧洛爾和卡蘭‧愛米妮爾為了保護自己與他們的追隨者，必須對抗一連串駭人威脅，可是他們卻患有會耗竭力量的神秘疾病，倘若未獲醫治，還會很快就奪走他們性命。