Prince Eldred returns from the North plagued by the Noise, a distorted manifestation of the Bond filled with both great power and mortal danger, only to find his people preparing for war against ruthless invaders. As he seeks to prove his worth and fulfill his ambitions, he must restore the frayed bonds with his mercurial father. And always, he must walk a treacherous path where one step too many can turn the strongest ally into the most bloodthirsty foe. The kingdom, his honor and his life all hang in the balance.