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 to the north, and they vow to get to it before he does. The church is the only safe haven the citizens of the city have, but even that is threatening to collapse. Oratham has become a powder keg of dissension, ready to explode at any moment. How can Bridget possibly keep this from happening with a slave collar locked around her throat?