New lover. New city. New dangers.

Wand'ring Minstrel Jimothy Redwing is used to traveling alone and finding his way in new places; songs and words are his stock in trade. A chance meeting with a handsome and friendly stranger who knows the lay of the land is a welcome bonus on his latest journey. With a place to stay, a sexy new lover, and some local contacts, it should be trivially easy to deliver the letters in his care—including a message for the local ruler—and earn a little money singing in the tavern's barroom before moving on.

When his new lover, Ricky Lennox, makes it clear that he's interested in more than just a one-night tryst, Jimothy figures things are about as perfect as they can get. It's only when he learns exactly who Ricky is, and what the epistle to Kanbec's ruler concerns that his life hits a sour note. He quickly finds that this journey is not only far more complicated than he could have dreamed, but as dangerous as any epic ballad.