Falsely convicted and exiled for attacking his friend, half-elven half-barbarian Toran flees to neighboring Eridan. Following his uncle’s advice, he finds work in the seedy Knife and Cat tavern. During the princess’s welcoming parade, Toran uses elven skills and barbarian battle rage to thwart her assassination. His actions earn him an invitation to join the secret protectors of Eridan known as the Warders. A second attempt succeeds in poisoning the princess, but fails to kill her. Toran, a veteran dwarf agent, and the princess' lady-in-waiting embark on a quest to retrieve the antidote's key ingredient. Other Warder agents work with the thieves' guild to protect the comatose princess from the assassin, the sorceress Skade, and an unknown traitor within the royal household.

Adara dreams of joining the Warders, a secret society that protects the kingdom of Eridan. While completing her field exam in allied Creuse, she spies her trainer, Geren, attacking Creusean royal guards. Is the battle real or part of her test? Unsure, she enters the dangerous world of Creusean politics with two children, runaway slaves, as her only guides. Alerted by the Eridani thieves’ guild of foul play, the Warders dispatch Adara’s friends, veteran agent Draham and half-elven Toran, on a mission to save the alliance, and, if possible, rescue Adara and Geren. Will they be forced to choose between their sworn duty and their friends?