Description:

Margaret Alton, rightful heir to the Alton Domain, has been making a desperate effort to confront her newfound laran powers and to understand the obscure, potent, and frightening nature of her unique shadow matrix. However Margaret's problems are not limited to the mystical powers of the mind, for she has fallen in love with Mikhail Lanart-Hastur, Regent to the royal Elhalyn Domain, a man she has been forbidden to marry, for their alliance would irrevocably alter the power balance of their planet. But when Margaret and Mikhail find themselves drawn inexorably to the shattered ruins of an ancient Tower - a Tower destroyed centuries ago - the landscape of terror which they must face will eclipse all their currnet strife. For a long dead Keeper awaits them in the Ages of Chaos. And in the quest set for them by this ancient shade they will face foes and challenges beyond their wildest imagings in a battle which may not only change the entire face of their world, but could alter the future so that they no longer exist!

After spending her youth in the Terran Empire, Margaret Alton returns to Darkover, the planet of her birth. There she discovers she has the Alton Gift--forced rapport and compulsion--one of the strongest and most dangerous of the inherited Laran gifts of the telepathic Comyn--the ruling families of Darkover. And even as she struggles to control her newfound powers, Margaret finds herself falling in love with the Regent to the royal Elhalyn Domain, a man she has been forbidden to marry, for their alliance would irrevocably alter the power balance of their planet!

After spending her youth in the Terran Empire, Margaret Alton returns to Darkover, the planet of her birth. There she discovers she has the Alton Gift--forced rapport and compulsion--one of the strongest and most dangerous of the inherited Laran gifts of the telepathic Comyn--the ruling families of Darkover. And even as she struggles to control her newfound powers, Margaret finds herself falling in love with the Regent to the royal Elhalyn Domain, a man she has been forbidden to marry, for their alliance would irrevocably alter the power balance of their planet!