Aithera and Jira decide to stay in the Dragon Back Valley. This decision causes confusion and uncertainty in others. Solen departs when he believes he is doing more harm than good, and Aithera accepts what she believes is a future of pain that duty and honor bring with that decision. By staying in the valley, Aithera is hidden and safe, but when she leaves to visit her friends in a small settlement near Haulden, a new menace shows himself -- someone from her past that promises to harm her friends to get to her. Jira learns from visiting her family that there is a secret about her mother's origins -- a secret confirmed by an unexpected source -- that reveals she is more than just a mere farm girl. This news sends her on a journey of discovery that brings on more surprises. While Jira is on her quest, Aithera decides that she must become the hunter instead of the hunted. When she finally confronts the one from her past, she gets answers that are very painful and not what she was expecting. Aithera survives the encounter, and when she and Jira return to the valley, they each have surprises of their own. Devon reveals the truth about Aithera's origins, and with this newfound knowledge, she sets out to mend the pain and seek the happiness she longs for with the one who stubbornly resists any return to the valley. Books by S.F. and D.A.Swem The Demesne Series Book one: Aithera Book two: Valley of Mystery Book three: New Beginnings Book four: Challenge