A victorious Safar Timura has been rescued from certain death. But, desperate to avert the volcanic explosion which he has twice seen in a prophetic vision, he must now journey to faraway Hadin and a last explosive confrontation with his old enemy. With him are his adopted half-demon son Palimak, the warrior woman Leiria and his magical horse Khysmet, and as the expedition sets out by airship and sailing ship, it seems that their quest will be a lucky one. But Iraj Proteus, the foe he believes he has vanquished, has left surprises behind him. And the volcano, fuelled by magic, has the power to release both natural and unnatural destructive forces that could mean the end of Safar's world.