An action-packed, stand alone prequel in the Five Lands Saga. In the war-torn kingdoms of the Five Lands, only the armies of Sevairn stand against the spread of old superstitions and dark magics, bringing order to chaos and winning the populace back from the worship of dead gods. When a neighboring nation invades, Erich Dektrian—a brash young officer in the Sevairnese cavalry—and his regiment are stretched thin. Erich and his fellow soldiers are losing ground and losing hope. Embarking on a daring plan that could turn the tide of the war, Erich pushes his small cavalry unit to their ultimate limit on a breakneck midnight ride. Alone and exhausted, they must hold a crucial bridge for days against an enemy that vastly outnumbers them. Captain Dektrian and his men have only each other to rely on. There’s no turning back, and only one way forward—To win at all costs.