The water beckons...

Illista and her sister fled their homeland when invaders killed their parents and tried to enslave the girls' innate water magic. Now disguised as servile Waki, Illista serves the Segra people on the dusty high plains, far from the warm oceans of her childhood.

One night, lured by the siren song of the Segra's sacred lake waters, Illista sheds her Waki disguise for a swim and becomes witness to a murder attempt on the Segra chief's only son and heir.

War looms...

Joral's marriage to the daughter of another tribe will seal the peace between the warring nations and strengthen both halves of the Segra people against invaders from the West. When he is poisoned and nearly drowned on the night of his betrothal, a mysterious sprite of a woman saves his life.

Was the attempt on his life the workings of a rival, or was it tied to the sudden arrival of Western mercenaries who seek the missing water witches?

A secret revealed...

When Joral discovers Illista's secret, will he sacrifice her to secure peace for his people? Or will he follow his heart for the sake of a water sprite who may be the Segra's only hope for restoring the rains to the drought-ridden land?