The crew of the starship *Nightflyer* is heading into the outer reaches of known space in search of a legendary alien race known as the *volcryn*. The mission is led by Karoly d'Branin and the ship captained by the mysterious Royd Eris, who appears only as a hologram who drifts among them, sometimes playing chess with the beautiful and brilliant warrior, Melantha Jhirl. Soon the explorers begin to feel they are being watched. Macabre accidents befall them one by one. Is there someone else on board? Royd won't say. And there is no turning back: the *volcryn* are near...