Late one stormy night, in the pleasant and peaceful land of Ruwenda, three princesses are born. As each baby is placed in her mother's arms, the Archimage Binah bestows on her a powerful gift: a pendant containing a bud of the long-extinct Black Trillium: the badge of the royal house, a symbol of an ancient magic. While the sisters blossom into beautiful young women, neighboring Labornok use a dark magician to sunder Binah's protection. As invaders pour into Ruwenda, the Archimage orders the princesses to flee-and changes them to search for three magical talismans which when brought together will be their only chance to regain their kingdom and free its people. Each must accomplish her task separately-and to succeed, each must also confront and conquer the limits of her own soul. Cover art by Geoff Taylor.