Beyond the frontier, hostage of a hostile hill clan, and running out of time. Can a youth master his captors' magic and pass the Test of Manhood—before he is executed?

At the edge of a colonizing empire, the youngest son of a merchant is sent alone to trade with the native People of the Hills. He brings rare magics to trade, but it won't be enough to save his skin. For the People view him as a hated enemy, one of the invading Eridari. He will have to prove himself to survive... and he only has three days to do it.

Introducing the world of New Erida!