Kilgore had long dreamed of great adventures and magic. But when he alone proved able to draw the magic sword Kildurin he found himself embroiled in more than he had wanted. With the aid of a crotchety old wizard he set out for the far north across lands beset with trolls, frost giants, dark elves, and all the minions of dark sorcery. It was his duty to find and destroy the evil wizard Surt, who was threatening to bring never-ending darkness and eternal winter to the land of Skarpsey.

If he could survive the perils of the journey, he would then have to face Surt alone -- one man and his sword against the might of the greatest wizard and all his cohorts. And there was a further problem.

There had been twenty previous attempts to end the life of Surt, and all had failed. Surt, it seemed, could not be killed!