The forest dwellers bathe in the waters of Elyon to prevent a disease which dries out the skin, creating not only a horrible smell, but literally affecting the mind of the diseased person.

The Forest Guard protects the forest people who, as Elyon commanded, bathe in the lakes each day.

The Hordes from the desert suffer with the disease, and it is their goal to destroy the forest dwellers, forcing them away from the evils of the water. Once they don't bathe in the waters of Elyon, they become Horde.

Now the Supreme Commander of the Forest Guard, Thomas Hunter knows that the Hordes have become too large. It is necessary to draft younger and younger people to become part of the guard.

In a long training and then a game, he chooses the three strongest for a special mission.  Then he surprises everyone by making the fourth Johnis, a young man who had failed at the training.

What Hunter knows that no one else does is that Johnis is marked. He is destined to lead his people, even though it will end in his death.

So the four head out into the desert, supposedly on their last training journey, only to discover that they are up against far more than just finding four sacred cacti for a ceremony.

They find themselves as the first line of defense in finding the lost books which will prevent the Hordes from winning.

The story is fast and fascinating. The four do not immediately bond, but when they do, they become a powerful force together.

The first part of their destiny has been fulfilled, and now they face more travails as they gather together the lost books and prevent the end of all that is holy to their lives.