A bounty hunter meets a denounced nobleman. In her world, Wren Romany is as unconventional as they come. Born to a large, devout family and then forced out to fend on her own, she earns her living as a bounty hunter. As her second winter alone looms, she decides to stay in one place for the season. Seeking shelter, she offers her hunting skills in exchange. Tourth Mynth, the master of the ruined fortress in the valley, needs help. His small household faces a hard winter. As son of a disenfranchised noble, he has plenty of space beneath his roof, but not much to eat. Wren's offer seems a good fit. Wren soon learns the residents of Iselyn need more than simply meat on their table. The valley's residents squirm beneath a harsh master. Unsolved murder and betrayal lurk in the Mynths' not so distant past. And Tourth's battle with his emotional scars from the recent civil war will determine the fate of the whole valley.