Part One of the Trilogy-Mary is the Princess of the Light on Laronia. The light is all she has ever known. Now she is coming of age and questioning her world's beliefs and politics. She glows during her initiation, full of light, which shows her power. Her power inspires envy and attacks by unknown assailants. Her stepmother, Queen Lady Tish, is finally pregnant after many years of marriage to Mary's father. She becomes ill with Pica, and Mary finds a way to help her. When Mary is attacked again King Phillip decides she must leave the castle for her own safety. With her Grandfather and friend, Pete, she escapes the castle in disguise, and embarks on a perilous journey to her grandfather's family's sea side village to complete her training in Light Meditation and Battle. But it may be more perilous there for them all. Through all this she must come to terms with the light and dark of her world, the attacks, her friend Pete, who wishes to be more than a friend, and her own indecision and isolation. She must find a way to enter womanhood, either as Lady in some occupation, or as Queen of Laronia.