Nobody knows better than Jeorek that a Stormrider without a sorcerer is nothing but unfulfilled potential. When he finally finds a young man with a resonant aura, however, he discovers that the sorcerer fate has bequeathed him isn't anything like what he expected. At first glance, Dare is a mute, crippled slave with no discernible power, but he soon proves to be far more than he appears. He's not only a nobleman's son, but he's also one of the most powerful Illusionists in the empire. So how did he wind up as a slave? As Jeorek learns about his sorcerer's shadowed past, he must gain Dare's trust to unravel the mystery that surrounds him before the young man's enemies become his own. In a world where magical illusions can obscure reality, will he be able to see the danger coming? What's more, will he be able to weather the storm?