Rafe Swale is in over her head. The search for her mother has led the Gatecrashers into a shadowy runic underworld and something malicious is at play. Missing mages, frightening runeskills, fighting over saklaus - like Rafe's athoras - are just a regular day in the Keese rune clan. With few clues, Rafe presses ahead into a hidden society where talented mages are bought and sold among rune clans for their skills. Everyone has a price --- including her.