An ancient map, a strange prophecy, and anyone who dares speak of it, dies. A new enemy enters the Valla arena, but this one is as old as time and seeks a forbidden place. An ancient map points the way. Sorcery and technology work together to contain a creature created of time and fire. The terrible secret of the source of Valla power is uncovered and, as friends and family are murdered, Torrullin reveals the truth about the Valla Dragon, a secret about greed from the era of Nemisin.

Hurting after Saska abandons him, Torrullin hurtles into battle when his twin sons are kidnapped, and takes with him into danger a pilot, a navigator, and an innocent girl - they are the Dalrish seeking escape from Xen III. Another truth rears up, the tale of the Nine who fled into the Forbidden Zone with a strange taliesman in the shape of a dragon. “There are dragons in my future,” Torrullin once tells Quilla of the Q’lin’la...and that future is now. Quilla knows who the fire creatures are; the Q’lin’la fled them in ancient time. They are the Kallanon, the Glittering Darkness.

War erupts on a world no more than a circle on an ancient map, a world hidden in the time of the Nine. There Torrullin discovers who his sons really are, Taranis confronts his inner demons, Bartholamu of the Siric faces his arch-nemesis, Q’lin’la and Kallanon are thrown into the same melting pot, an ancient emperor speaks again, the new Lady of Life is born, the Dalrish have a profound effect on Torrullin, and Vannis seeks revenge.

The Kallanon Scales is an epic journey into the realms of time and legend, and forever alters the future.