The novel’s antagonists are primarily defined by their thirst for power. The Threllian Lords have based their country’s economy on conquering and enslaving the inhabitants of neighboring countries. Esmaris, Tisaanah’s Threllian enslaver, demonstrates his power by displaying his immense resources: His estate is a status symbol meant to signal his influence. He also seeks absolute power over Tisaanah and the other people he keeps captive. After Esmaris dies, his son, Ahzeen, follows in his footsteps, using his father’s death as a pretext for war with other Threllian Lords, thus thinning out the competition for ultimate control of the realm. Likewise, Zeryth is also obsessed with rising to Ara’s throne. Initially, he seems benign, but the end of the novel shows him plotting to overthrow the Aran government and conquer Threll. His desire for power is absolute, and he is absolutely corrupted by it.

Protagonists are also tempted by the potential that power offers. After Tisaanah kills Esmaris and escapes, she dreams of obtaining enough mastery of magic to free the enslaved people in Threll. At first, she believes that this aim can be accomplished by studying and applying herself. However, she succumbs to the appeal of taking a shortcut when Zeryth offers her military backup if she becomes Reshaye’s Host.