The Evil Wizard Henig is dead.

The Province of Taridawil has been freed from his curse.

Surely, now Karana can hang up her shield and return to her real job as Head of the most important merchant House in the world.

There's just one or two small problems:

The unpleasant Lord Jaycoff of Mountainmeadow has a contract requiring Karana to marry one of his sons – though not Sir Ivan, her erstwhile Knight-Companion. Karana still doesn't understand why Ivan abandoned them to face Henig without him.

And every noblemaiden in the Realm is angling to marry her other Knight-Companion, Sir Kefen, now that he is to be crowned Duke of Taridawil.

Nevermind that Kefen actually kissed Karana on the turret of Taridawil Keep right after the pair of them slew Henig, broke his spell, and freed the province. And... nevermind that Kefen has been making sheep's eyes at Ivan for as long as she's known them. And vice versa.

What they need is to let everything settle down and become old news, so a simple little mission for the trio of Knight-Companions to escort the Princess Royal to the Holy Isle to seek the Great Goddess' Blessing on her future reign should be the perfect getaway...

Right?