Armies are gathering from distant lands. In the midst of imminent war, two orphaned brothers, Dougray and Robbie, and their travelling companion Belle, have sought shelter with the elves. But even in their idyllic world, peace is short-lived when monstrous shrieks are unleashed into their treetop homes and destroy everything in their paths. The brothers are forced to flee with Navarre, the healer that once knew their parents. On the way to Twendlemark to obtain horses for their journey, they are given a cryptic prophecy about their future and narrowly escape Morgranus, an evil demon hunting them that replicates its last victim. Dougray's troubles escalate when Robbie is kidnapped and taken to the mad queen of Dwellinfrey and he and Belle are captured by Rory, the banished king and leader of a band of rebels known as the Whistlers.