Aqqa runs away from her family's village to escape an arranged marriage while she is still a child. She only has one plan and that is to get to the Kotidor that she saw with her brother on a trading trip. Struggling against the harsh climate of the region, the only thing that gets her through is sheer force of will. Once she manages to get to them, they take her in and begin her training to keep order along the empire's frontier.

Her duty brings her back to her family home in the Far North and all she left behind, including her best friend and first love. However, the consequences of her betrayal are not the only things she must face on this journey as she squares off with dangerous people, animals, and even the harsh weather. Can she survive in a place where her sword cannot help her battle the ice and snow?