On a world ruled by Chaos, gods sometimes visit through the Chaos Gate, and human affairs are ordered by the magi from their black castle on Star Peninsula. Now, a new First Magus, the mad, sadistic Vordegh, has just been appointed; so, according to custom, Captain Benetan Liss of the Chaos riders will lead his demon-mounted horde forth to capture a new crop of young, healthy servants for the castle. To his dismay, Benetan finds that one of their victims is Iselia Darrow, a former flame. Benetan guiltily schemes to shield Iselia from the horrid rites to come and persuades Savrinor to accept her as his mistress. Prior to being taken, Iselia had been wed to Kaldar, a self-taught sorcerer and secret devotee of the banished Order god, Aeoris. Kaldar flees into the far south, where he will strive to open a path for Aeoris to return.