This is the story of Rhunal the diminutive she-orc mage. She begins as a slave, but after a gang of thieves breaks into her manor, she escapes. After evading the guards and meeting an adventuring party, she sets out into the wild on a quest to bring those same thieves to the justice of the blade. But this quest will dig up part of her past she had tried to forget. Despite joining this quest as a means to escape, she will grow to like these three humans. The jovial veteran Hugh, the impatient archer Lovell, and Brondulf, a giant of a man, a young noble who has turned his back on his former life.

With a party of two rookies, Hugh is concerned for their chances. An orc who knows magic is something unheard of, and Rhunal takes to her new life with enthusiasm. But despite her abilities, she has much to learn. Bron's size and strength is an asset, but the frontier is a place that punishes the unprepared. The quest will more deadly than any of them are ready for.

The book has illustrations on many chapters depicting key scenes.