Lord Calder, a nobleman of the beleaguered kingdom Dunmorda, is drawn into a religious controversy by the enigmatic young woman Mira. Standing before a high tribunal to defend the aberrant teachings of Mira and her order, the Ladies of Mourdan, Calder tries to protect. In his way are radical elements in the government including fellow Entitled Lords, Jerras and Nothma. With a escalating war and a missing king shaking the foundations of Dunmorda, Calder pays a deep cost to become a messenger of hope and retribution.