Long after the Shaping Tristen turns back an evil sorcerer and places his friend Cefwyn on the throne, Cefwyn is once again threatened by the forces of evil, a situation that brings Tristen unexpected challenges.
Tristen is a weapon in an ancient war between wizardry and sorcery. He is a summoning and a shaping, brought to life by a wizard. And his sword is a weapon as well. Its keen blade, marked Illusion on one side and Truth on the other, once helped Tristen win the throne of Ylesuin for the young king Cefwyn, gaining Tristen the stewardship of the brave country of Amefel.
The wizard Mauryl Gestaurien cast his greatest spell to create Tristen. Armed with a book of spells he can't read and a magic sword bearing the words "Truth" on one side and "Illusion" on the other, Tristen rides into battle for Cefwyn against the Shadow spawned by Hasufin, Mauryl's greatest enemy.
