No longer are all Powers benevolent; despite the Long Peace, Eskalind's royal family is threatened by an unseen foe. The Bladesmith's Daughter must employ her Scholars and a hidden ally to learn The Powers' secret rules and impart them to the Flame Quencher, who may be the foundation of the future. "We have Gifts in our possession that will protect us and prepare us for our hour of need. Eskalind must remain a preserve of peace a beacon for all the world..." Conceived as a multi-book series, each book can stand alone, for Eskalind is open to all.