ON ARRIVAL AT ETH GOTTOTH, ARTHEN AND NALLON SOON LEARN THAT THE FORTRESS IS ANYTHING BUT A SANCTUARY. IT IS THE BOARD FOR A CENTURIES-OLD LIVING GAME OF CHESS BETWEEN POWERFUL BEINGS KNOWN ONLY AS THE MIGHTY AND AN IMPRISONED DARK BEING CALLED THE FALSE SAVIOUR. KIDNAPPED ORPHANS TAKE THEIR PLACE AS PAWNS ON THE BOARD, AND WHEN THEIR PIECE IS TAKEN. THE CHILD'S LIFE IS SWIFTLY EXTINGUISHED. DREADING THIS FATE, THE TERRIFIED ORPHANS CONSPIRE WITH SYMPATHETIC ADULTS TO FIND A WAY TO ESCAPE BEFORE IT'S GAME OVER FOR ALL OF THEM.