Something strange is happening in the Black Mountains . The Black Empire is crumbling and the miners are in revolt. Manuelo, a strange, Robin Hood-type figure, is believed to responsible. But when a stolen dragonet full of fleeing miners arrives in Ashby Water, Lily Quench and her hriends have to decide whether Manuelo is friend foe.

In the snowbound valleys of the Black Mountains , Lily and Queen Dragon find themselves trapped in a deadly war between Manuelo's followers and the Black Squads who control the mines. Double-crossed and alone, in peril of her life, Lily must discover Manuelo's identity and find out what he is really fighting for.