Maida, Liandra, Gleve, Anglewart, Jessa and Melisande have each paid a terrible price in the quest for the secrets of the Dragon Priestesses, but key pieces have been recovered, a tiny flame of hope lit, a transformation begun. Although she has refused to leave her room at the Healing School for months, since she was confronted by Mothers Sarah and Tess, Mother Peg finds herself in the mainstream of history.