Ridmark Arban is the Shield Knight, defender of the realm of Andomhaim. The kingdom of Andomhaim has defeated one invasion of the deadly Heptarchy and its spider-priestesses, but so long as the legions of the Heptarchy hold the Isle of Kordain, Ridmark knows another war is coming. And the Exarch of the Isle wants another war, hoping to conquer Andomhaim for the glory of the Heptarchy. But neither the Shield Knight nor the Exarch realizes that the true lord of the Isle of Kordain desires this war to begin.

War is coming between the Shield Knight and the Exarch. But neither sees the dark power manipulating the battle from the shadows. To drive the Exarch from her stronghold on the Isle of Kordain, Ridmark is gambling on a bold strategy - to reach the Isle through the twisting caverns of the Deeps. But the caverns of the Deeps are filled with deadly dangers and deeper mysteries. And disturbing one of those mysteries might wake a darkness to dwarf even the Exarch herself...

Ridmark Arban has led the army of Andomhaim to the Isle of Kordain, ready to wage war upon the sinister Exarch of the Seven Temples and her fanatical soldiers. But powers older than either Andomhaim and the Seven Temples have fought over the Isle, and a lord of the dark elves sees the chance to seize the Isle for himself. And if he is not stopped, first the Isle and all the world will burn...