Apprenticed to Folgan,  Gom works to gain his wizard's title. Under this envious and suspicious master, he learns to  be less trusting. One comfort is Stormfleet, the magical cíto still disguised as an old gray hack.  Another is Hevron, his master's horse, and Keke, a marsh hawk. When danger strikes Ulm at last, Gom has use his wit, courage, and skill to fight it alone. As his world hangs in the balance, Gom confronts Katak on the dreaded crystal stair.
Right: Katak as human skull.

Gom's Exile.

  During his apprenticeship, one lesson Gom fails to learn is discretion. After he shows his gifts in a highly public situation, Folgan dismisses him - which means he can now never earn his official wizard's staff as he was bidden. Faced with disaster, Gom takes his last resort - to go back home and learn the magic arts from Harga's chronicles. While there, he learns of impending war between Pen'langoth and the reclusive realm of Aelyth-Kintalyn. He races to try and stop it, getting deeper into danger at each step. . .
Left: Illustrated chapter initial T: Gom and friends entering the Dunderfosse.