For much of her childhood, Leida wished for nothing more than to visit the Keep, fabled home of the Witches of Thalaesin. Unfortunately her older sister, Fuline was chosen. Fate takes a hand, however, and Leida gets her wish to make the long journey with her sister and her sister's friend. But as everyone knows, you should always be careful what you wish for.

Leida returns to the Keep at long last. Assuming the role of a teacher, she realizes all is not well at the Keep. Someone is ripping the emotional stability and heart out of the close-knit community, and tearing the Council apart. When the perpetrator is revealed Leida must undertake a perilous mission, fleeing impending catastrophe. And there is no surety of safety at the end of that journey.

The unthinkable happened; China invaded Canada while world governments stagger beneath a natural disaster of unprecedented proportions. Disillusioned, unable and unwilling to kowtow to the new authorities Mark Elders and his wife struggle to survive in a work camp. Overworked, Jada dies in childbirth, their infant along with her, and Mark snaps. His rebellion prompts the Camp Commandant to load him onto the truck headed for the mines with other recalcitrant. But fate isn't finished with Mark, and what it has in store for him is the farthest thing from his wildest imagination.