The son the wizard abandoned, the cat beast guarding his prison, and the winged girl bent on saving him. Can they bring compassion to the tortured lands? The wizard imprisoned many women in a tower hidden from the civilized world. He had children with all of them, but loved only one of them. He wanted a male heir, but not the one she bore! Valor is malformed and full of his mother's kindness. Imprisoned by the wizard and left to die, his hard life has shattered his spirit. When the prophets bring the Neverqueen to him, is she his last hope for a better life?