Enter the world of warring kingdoms, magic and marvels, political intrigues - enter the enthralling world of The Elenium. In this second volume, Ehlana, young Queen of Elenia, clings to life by a thread, preserved within a diamond-like block of crystal conjured by the sorceress Sephrenia. But there is a price to pay - twelve Pandion knights must sacrifice their lives to keep her alive for just one year.

Aided by the goddess Aphrael, the Pandion Knight Sparhawk and his band of companions have recovered the magical jewel Bhelliom - the Sapphire Rose - from the cave of the troll-dwarf Ghwerig. Now they have the power to wake and cure Ehlana, the young Queen of Elenia.

Eagerly awaited for a decade, here at last is the full epic story of Belgarath, the great sorcerer learned in the Will and the Word on whom the fate of the world depends. Only Belgarath can tell of those near forgotten times when Gods still walked the land: he is the Ancient One, the Old Wolf, his God Aldur's first and most-favoured disciple.