Elspeth and Ravyn have gathered most of the twelve Providence Cards, but the last and most important remains to be found: The Twin Alders. If they are to find it before the Solstice and cure the kingdom of the dark magic infecting it, they must journey beyond the dangerous, mist-cloaked forest that surrounds their kingdom. The only one who can lead them is the monster that shares Elspeth's head—the Nightmare—and he is no longer eager to share.