While the evil druid Shadea a'Ru and Prime Minister Sen Dunsidan hold power, young Penderrin sets out on a treacherous journey to find his aunt, the true Ard Rhys, and release her from her prison, a task for which he needs a talisman from the legendary tree called the Tanequil.

"Paxon Leah never thought of the old family sword hanging above his living room hearth as anything other than an intriguing ornament...until his sister is kidnapped by a sorcerer. Following the dark mage with nothing but this piece of steel to protect him, Paxon stumbles into a plot to overthrow the Druids and remake the world...and accidentally unlocks the powers of the ancient blade. Now, he must learn to master the sword's power in order to protect...