For some time, Jessa Marne has been living a lie. To travel freely in the Kingdom of Zuri, she was forced to disguise herself as a man. She wants to be herself again, but the Mage Zay Narngul will only teach her to control her abilities if he takes her on as an apprentice: and he will only teach men. Having escaped both the Kingdom of Zuri and the Volek Emprie, Jessa and her companions know that the Spectre will soon be on their path. As Jessa struggles to learn about her magic skills and help the group to avoide the Spectre, she learns the secret behind Zay's refusal to teach women... a secret that could cost her life...