After their adventures in Elangir, Raltarn and his comrades on Silver Dolphin begin the voyage home to Asdanund. Raltarn hopes that his share of the treasure will be enough for a dowry for his fiancée Shanu. The warship Glorious has gone ahead with a cargo of magical weapons that might help to win the long war against Nuhys. Disaster strikes Glorious, and the only survivor refuses to say what happened.

Halfway home, they discover they're too late. The war is over, and Asdanund is now under Nuhysean rule. A retired Asdanundish admiral recruits Silver Dolphin to carry a raiding party to Asdanund. He asks Raltarn to join the party, as he's the only magician they have. Raltarn agrees, hoping to be reunited with Shanu. But what hope does a man with no military experience have in a country that's now overrun with dragons?