Ambrosine Deforest joins Conrad Macek on a trip back home to Russia, where he wishes to settle some personal issues between himself and his former home. However, things do not go as planned for the duo. What used to be a place protected by one of the Sidhe has fallen into the hands of the Thallain, contested only by the remnant Inanimae who claim Siberia their home and soon are confronted with an old nemesis of the Varich. What will happen with a nugget of Nightmare so rooted in the North?
The bonfires were lit, the shadows swelled during the Longest Night and revelry was had as day and night collided under the auspice of Chernobog, Lord of Night and Patron of the Moon.
The Dragonness Skyla, figurehead ruler of Lodestone and it's pirates is a prisoner of the mighty Shade, a creature of dark powers and a Nightmare given form. The heroes and heroines from Lion's Reach embark to quelch the shadow once an for all, freeing the Dragonness of her prison.
Conrad had beef with the Countess for not only rebuffing his invitation to Highsummer, but also declaring plans for Pennons two days after the celebrations (3 months early!) He had been SCORNED! And so he went to the Countess to settle the frustration: with a duel, Highsummer style.
