"He shall be Allon's greatest king; of such a heritage as to rule Guardians and mortals alike."

So say the prophecy about the man to succeed Ellis. Since the death of his son, Nigel, he delayed finding a husband for his daughter and heir, Ellan. Finally, he decides on Prince Sullivan of Gorham. Unknown, is that an age-old enemy is Sullivan's mother, and she accompanies him to Waldron in disguise. Meanwhile, Ellan's own ambition has waited for the right time to blossom.

Ellan, Sullivan, and his mother use subtlety to push the royal family to the brink. Even the Guardians are impacted by their dark machinations. Only Tristine and Darius suspect his mother's true identity. However, their efforts to warn Ellis, fail to sway him, reduces the Guardians in numbers, and forces Tristine to flee Waldron.

Determined to save her father, Tristine meets two unlikely allies; a blacksmith, and a crippled beggar. But how can they stop a coup? And what will become of the Great King?