Arken believes the Necklace of Tol will ultimately help them defeat the Amarrat invader. But Arken’s triumphant return home to Lanth is ruined when he sees his Neanderthal blood brother, Ord, being sold into slavery when Arken sails into port.

Arken’s nemesis, Gart, buys Ord and then plots with the King of Lanth to hold Ord hostage to force the Neanderthals to give up the Necklace of Tol—something they will never do.  Arken must find a way to free his best friend from slavery and save the Lantish people from the invasion of the Amarrats.