Briana knew she should obey her father, Alodar, the Archimage. She did not have any experience for the job, but adventure beckoned. How hard could it be?

Quite hard, it turns out. Learning centers called colleges rather than magician palaces. The stock market. Erupting volcanoes. Underground aliens plotting to escape from their frigid prison. Three brothers, each with his own agenda on how best to proceed. One has a plan to destroy all native life in a very simple way.