Webron, terrified that Desdina’s disappearance will prompt retaliation from Etruria, summons her before him but she escapes into the tunnels darkening her platinum hair with mud and hiding amongst the Brisleys to work as a slave at the loom. It is here that she first sees Frong. Webron tightens his regime, punishing his guards for the Truro girl’s abduction but his tyrannical rule results in an uprising that spreads through the ranks of Necromancers. By a twist of fate Frong and Desdina are used as envoys between the mutinying guards and almost instantly fall in love using the unfolding chaos as a means to see more of one another. Unfortunately when Frong goes to tell his grandmother that he has fallen in love he finds Ellen very ill. She tells him what seems to be a delusional fairy story about a girl with platinum hair. A jumbled prophecy of what is to come, although Frong does not know it. This is the last thing she tells him before she dies
Unknown to the lovers, above ground the Army of Etruria has mobilised. Realising that Sartis would be a powerful ally King Etor takes his men into Sourwood to convince her to join with them, offering her a truce. Accepting Etruria’s apology she agrees to join them for her opportunity to take vengeance against Webron. Meanwhile QUEEN AYRLIN and her entourage have seen Ellen’s prophecy in the stars. They remain at camp utilising what psychic abilities they have left to contact Desdina in Tapisillium. Entering her mind, Ayrlin finds Desdina with Frong and using the memory of Ellen’s omen she devises a plan to channel her magic through Desdina and destroy The Web.
