The defeat at the Hanging Stones of Wiltshire has left the Dragonskinner scarred and no closer to fulfilling his destiny. The resurrection of Galen by Ceptus and the Guardian has altered Andro's plan, and means imminent defeat of Andro's army unless the Dragonskinner can find a way to defeat him. Joined by Buskaru and Samuel Skillet, the Dragonskinner faces new challenges and discovers new wonders as he must travel to distant lands to acquire the means to defeat Galen and discover the location of the Prize: the Fountain of Youth. But what he finds on his journey is more than the Prize. It is his true self, which can only be revealed in the Mirrors of Transparency.