With the Thimalian heir out of the way, spies infiltrating his enemy’s camp, and unshakably loyal men behind him, King Pyresain schemes to make himself ruler of everything beneath the Sun. Thindra's father died fighting Pyresain many years ago, and following in his footsteps, Thindra joins the Thimalian army and goes to war. She is no stranger to combat, but she is not prepared for the bad decisions, infuriating charms, and dangerous lies of her fellow recruits. When a simple scouting mission goes awry, Thindra finds herself brought to the capital of the Xerxian empire, now a prisoner of war and a thorn in the flesh of King Pyresain’s rivalling sons. Meanwhile, Lorah and Celesia attempt to track down the Thimalian King’s lost bastard – a young man now heir to a throne he never wanted and a responsibility he will do anything to avoid.