Bridget, a young apprentice mage, is caught in the crosshairs of political intrigue. On one side, the powerful conclave of mages, and on the other, the reigning king. The king has become unstable, simultaneously building up an army of mercenaries and bleeding the merchants of Oratham of money and supplies. The city's guilds band together to undermine the king. In doing so, they discover he is searching for something powerful in a mage's castle...