The gods who created this world have abandoned it. In their mercy, however, they chained the rogue god and the monstrous creatures he created in the vast and inhospitable wasteland of the Bourne. The magical Veil that contains them has protected humankind for millennia, but the Veil has become weak and creatures of Nightmare have come through. To fight them, the races of men must form an alliance. Tahn Junell remembers friends who despaired in a place left barren by war. One of the few who have actually faced the unspeakable horde in battle, Tahn sees something else at work. He chooses to go to a place of his youth, a place of science, daring to think he can find a way to prevent slaughter, prevent war. His choices may reshape a world.