Count Minalan is a troubled soul, though most of the wizards of the land fear him because he is the strongest of them all but his life has not been easy. He has faced torture which has injured his soul even. Constant stress has made him feel lifeless; he has very quickly lost the love and passion of life in the last few episodes. He does not talk very much to his friends and the love of his life has drifted away.
Terry Mancour till this book has not been trying to put more life into the character because he is preparing him for big sacrifices. Also to present Minalan as a mature wizard such a style was necessary. He can talk to goddesses now and then and these powers are becoming a source of trouble for him because he knows too much. The more he comes to know about the fate of the world the more troubled his life becomes.
An enemy is rising after the end of Lord Gaja Katar. The enemy is not only powerful but he is also cunning i.e the one who always moves forward with a purpose. The wizard is not much worried about the new enemy because he has faced such things in The Wizards of Sevendor and Spellmonger.
However, the end of the world is bad news for him and there is nothing he can do about it which is even more painful. Narration by John Lee presents to us the tension in which Minalan is at present. He is just not sure whether he would be able to fulfill the job this time or not.
