Elminster's archenemy, the vampiric Lord Manshoon, thinks he has destroyed Elminster at last. But Elminster survives in the form of magical ash, and with the help of his scion, a fop who is growing into a true nobleman, and his longtime companion Storm, he still has a chance to counter Manshoon's insidious plots.From the Hardcover edition.

Shandril never wanted the legendary power of spellfire. All she wanted was a taste of adventure. Unfortunately, she got both. Now she's on the run. The evil Zhentarim, the sinister Cult of the Dragon, renegade wizards, and the terrifying monsters known as beholders want her spellfire, and they'll destroy the entire Realms--let alone one scared girl--to get it! The famous wizard Elminster, the Harpers, and the Knights of Myth Drannor are just as deter-mined that Shandril be free to wield spellfire for good. Of course, if she uses it for evil, they, too, will try to destroy her... .

Orivon Firefist was captured as a six-year-old child by the Nilfghar—the dark elves—who attacked his village by night on one of their surface raids.Fifteen years later, he is a moon-pale, scarred, muscular giant of a man, who has spent his days at forgework for a dark elf family. He is also forced to use his great strength to shift furniture in the grand rooms of their castle. He has been trained (and flogged and ordered about) by the beautiful Tsarnarra, a lash-wielding matron who is icily cruel, but proud of the slaves that she has trained.Through all of this, Orivon's spirit has never been broken. He longs to return to the surface world, even if that means destroying the entire dark elf empire along the way!