Ancient hatreds, ancient wrongs - their chains bind Rhodry Maelwaedd, the mad beserker, and his blood-sworn enemy, Raena, shape-changer and prophet. Both have glimpsed the great secret of the dweomer, that each soul leads many lives. Neither understand what they have seen. They forged their chain of hatred during Deverry's civil wars, when they lived as Maddyn the Bard and Lady Merodda, a dabbler in poisons and forbidden magicks. The evil that Merodda worked then claimed lives that Maddyn held dear. Not even the mighty dweomermaster Nevyn and his apprentice Lilli could undo the harm or prevent Maddyn from swearing a vengeance-vow that has smouldered down the centuries. Now Rhodry and Raena are to meet again far from the Kingdom of Deverry. Their blood-feud threatens to destroy the peaceful city of Cerr Cawnen. The eleven dweomermaster Dallandra must summon every power and ally at her disposal to break the chains of their Wyrd and save thousands of innocent lives.