Ren visits her mentor, Karn, in his hideaway before joining Dalia on their way to market. Baynon, plays a trick on her and their father, Dagron, but the game turns serious when the ruling order of the Kah'Nath arrives in Lyngarth.

Ren's father confronts her about a book she has kept hidden from him. When he discovers that the book is from Karn, they have an argument and Ren runs away. In the forest she encounters two fugitives, Lyanna and Hunter, and during a fight with Kah'Nath soldiers she's exposed to an ancient Mahri spirit.

Hunter follows Ren to her village where the spirit starts to take hold of her. He tells her that she is a Nuh'Mahri (a walker of the spirit) and that she must flee the village to avoid persecution. But the situation gets out of control when Dagron intervenes. Ren prays to Nirith, the Goddess of Light, for help but it might be too late.

Ren is put on trial for being a 'Marked One', the ancient enemy of the people of Alathia and the Kah'Nath, and only her brother works to save her. He comes up with a plan to enlist Hunter's help, but will the mercenary honour his promise when the Kah'Nath Master turns up at Ren's trial?

The Master provokes Ren to unleash her newfound powers, which strengthens the case against her. But before her death sentence can be carried out, a Knight from the ancient order of the Mahri'Rai appears to fight her corner. But can they all escape the power of the Kah'Nath, and who will be at Ren's side at the end?