The Wakefield family name goes back for millennia to when the ancestors roamed a lush and fertile Earth. For generations the family enjoyed unimaginable wealth and prosperity, but a series of weak patriarchs in recent years and unfortunate events has brought the family to near-extinction. Now, with nothing but the clothes on his back and the knowledge of his family's once-shining legacy, Ristlin must challenge Fate, rediscover the Wakefield destiny, and reclaim his family name.

Ristlin, explorer turned admiral, is now only a humble trader who occasionally takes up arms to protect his home in Providence.