The armies of a fallen god known as The Black Flame march on the empire, a relatively peaceful realm. They slaughter without mercy, leaving nothing behind. Hedrial, a village wizard has learned of the existence of an ancient artefact that has the power to kill a god. Leaving his apprentice behind, he goes off to free the legendary Forged One. Uthan Camarr, apprentice to the Wizard Hedrial, had his fate sealed the day he is plucked from obscurity. On setting out to complete his master's final request, neither the young mage nor his travelling companions are aware of the horrors that stalk them. As Uthan hurtles towards his defining confrontation, the fate of an Empire is inexorably linked with his own.