At the age of four, Tesni was found, crying, wandering the streets of the city of Linwood. Alastar Redleaf, known as Knives to the lads of the Thieves Guild, took the girl in and gave her his own last name. By the time she was eight, she was one of the cleverest pickpockets in the kingdom. Things quickly change, however, when Tesni makes the mistake of attempting to pick the pocket of one of the famed Rangers of Linwood. Now legal, Tesni suddenly finds herself the target of Agrona, a dangerous sorceress who believes Tesni can help her gain a long vacant throne she has no right to. Tesni must...

By the time she is sixteen, Nia Firemoon has forgotten who she is. She knows only her life in Seos, in the camp of the warlord Bhimar, with her mentor, who is training her in a special art. But Nia knows that there are secrets being withheld from her. She can sense it. She fully trusts only in Eskander, Bhimar's handsome youngest son, and her beloved horse, Nimeshaph...

Halmar's Ghost Warriors are legendary for their skill in battle, especially at night, and are said to the be perfect assassins. Halmar has allied with Bhimar, much to the dismay of those fighting against him. This includes his daughter-in-law, Sigrid. She and Drusus have been sent to Halmar to request the Ghost Warriors, as well as to fetch the Hearts of Fannar and Yewsel. Nia, meanwhile, struggles to become the leader she is destined to be. With her unit still in Seos, she is almost constantly in the shadows, moving between there and Linwood. It means that alliance building is still up to...