Raised by his Uncle Eldan, half-elven Toran struggles to control his human heritage and fit into elven society. When he releases his control to save a friend, elven purists banish him.

Combining his barbarian skills with his elven senses, Toran thwarts an assassination attempt on visiting Princess Erelle. His heroics earn him an invitation to join the Warders, a secret organization led by long-time colleagues of his uncle. After a second assassin poisons the princess, the Warders mobilize to find the antidote and capture the conspirators. Together with Draham, a veteran dwarf agent, and Adara, Erelle’s lady in waiting, Toran embarks on a mission to retrieve the antidote’s key ingredient. At nearly every turn they’re opposed by an organization led by the sorceress Skade.