Pursued by dark creatures who crave the precious pixie dust, Ionantha Hesperis and her fugitive guide Betula struggle deeper into enemy territory in search of clues to solve the hijacking of the Queen's trade caravan and the theft of a massive repository of earth-power. The mortal Ionantha must rely on her wits and knowledge, rather than magic she does not possess, to prevent the Queen's treasure from falling into the wrong hands.