Cathal MacAlaisdair was fighting against the English with his best friend, Fergus, by his side. In one battle, they meet a wizard who uses magic against Fergus. Reluctantly, Cathal leaves the war behind and returns to his home while he seeks to find someone who can reverse the magic used against Fergus. Fergus is fading away before their eyes. Nothing seems to help.

Sophia Metzger and her companion, Alice have traveled to Scotland from France. Sophia has been pursuing the study of alchemy but the Jewish men refuse to allow her to study the sacred books she needs. She knows that dragon scales are magical. The rumors about the MacAlasdair family have drawn Sophia to a land that is so different from anything she has known. The opportunity to heal Fergus offers Sophia an opportunity to advance her studies.

Ms. Cooper has written an intriguing story involving alchemy and dark magic. The story twists and turns through the lives of Cathal and Sophia as they seek to save one young man's life and to thwart a wizard who wants to win at all costs. Cathal and Sophia are drawn together emotionally as they seek to save Fergus. Ms. Cooper has done a great job of integrating magic and sorcery into medieval Scotland. This is one of the best books by Ms. Cooper that I've read.