The wizard's tower, on one of the four islands in the southwest corner of Kernow, is broken into and special magical jewels are taken. Seris, a young wizerd (female wizard), is sent by her adopted mother, Natel, to find and retrieve the jewels. But they were stolen by a gang of five Rooters who have almost certainly sold them, traded them, and scattered them across Kernow. It is imperative that the jewels be returned within a period of less than seven months, so that Natel can use them in a ritual that must be performed to ensure the safe continuance of Kernow and its people.
    Seris meets Tele, younger brother of Shyre (see The Torque of Kernow), now 24 years of age and a teacher in the Lorehaven (school) in the West Mondo Mountains. Tele teams with Seris to find the jewels and together they face many challenges, both physical and magical, as they race to meet the deadline.
    Meanwhile, Wedek, a would-be dragon master, has plans to establish himself as ruler of the northern half of Kernow, the area once inhabited by Zobort. The dragons - once almost extinct - have returned to that area and Wedek is determined to use them to his advantage. He learns of the theft of the magical jewels and sets out to get them for himself, using the power of the dragons.
   

Chapter Five:   STOLEN VALUABLES

            The wizerd and her daughter/apprentice entered the deepest level of the tower. Nātel carried a flaming torch, which she set in a holder on the wall near the door. She led the way across the room to where a second flambeau flared in its holder, left there from Nātel’s recent previous visit to the room.
            Sūris looked about her, studying the stone walls; no rich wooden panels here, she thought. There was a tapestry rug on the floor but no wall decoration and little or no furniture. Nātel led the way to a large iron-bound chest that stood against the far wall. The chest was of gigantic size and was fastened, through the handle at either end, by chains connecting to massive rings set into the stone wall. It would seem impossible for anyone to remove the chest.
            Nātel stood in front of the chest and folded her arms. “What do you see, Sūris?” she asked.
            Sūris examined the chest, wondering what point Nātel was trying to make. “I-I see the chest, of course. Big. Solid. Secure to the wall. It must weight a great deal and, should one be able to free it from its binding, I would doubt that it be possible to lift it let alone move it.”
            Nātel nodded. “And is it locked?”
            Sūris looked for a padlock, or a keyhole anywhere on the exterior. There was nothing. She said as much.
            Again Nātel nodded. “How, then, do you think it would be fastened and rendered secure?”
            “Why, by magic, I would suppose.”
            Nātel sighed. “And so it was . . . so it was. But no more.” She advanced and, with some effort, lifted the lid.
            Sūris looked inside . . . but could see nothing. It was as though the inside of the chest was a vast black emptiness that stretched to infinity. “What – what is supposed to be in it?” she asked.
            “Oh, I should have told you. Yes, you’ll see nothing. But if you know what you want out of the chest, you can reach in and get it.” So saying, Nātel put her hand into the blackness. To Sūris' surprise, her hand seemed to disappear for a moment but then she withdrew it and was holding a small red case such as might hold a piece of jewelry. She opened the case, which was lined with soft white silk, and showed it to be empty.
            “What is that for?” asked Sūris.
            “What was it for?” said Nātel, bitterly. “There was something very valuable in this case. It was placed inside the chest to protect and preserve it. Someone, somehow, has got into the chest and stolen it.”