Del Rey/Ballantine, New York, 2005, 1^st pr thus.  ISBN 0-345-48389-8.  Trade soft cover, 398 pages.  Very good; light wear to wraps with light rubs, scratches and impressions; binding sound; bit of age spotting/toning on outer page block.  Interior clean and unmarked; bit of age spotting to first and last few pages.  ‘Twenty years have passed since Grianne Ohmsford denounced her former life as the dreaded Ilse Witch.  Fulfilling the destiny predicted for her, she has established the Third Druid Council and dedicated herself to its goals of peace, harmony among the races, and defense of the Four Lands.  But despite her devotion to the greater good as Ard Rhys, the High Druid of Paranor, Grianne still has bitter enemies.  Even her few allies – chief among them her trusted servant Tagwen – know of the plots against her.  But they could never anticipate the sudden, ominous disappearance of the Ard Rhys, in the dead of night and without a trace.  Now Tagwen joins Grianne’s brave young nephew, Pen Ohmsford, and the wise, powerful elf Ahren Elessedil on a desperate and dangerous mission of search and rescue – to deliver the High Druid of Shannara from an unspeakable fate.’ (from rear wrap)