Sixteen years ago, Éiliria was thrown into a civil war when High Lord Brés dé Morrigan decided that magic must be eradicated. He eliminated the druids and murdered King and Queen Nuada and their family. 

Now, magic is dead, and a fragile peace reigns over Éiliria. Everything is thrown into disarray when tribal warriors and druids kidnap Rionach dé Lir. Now, Rionach must prepare for war against the usurper, King Brés dé Morrigan, the man she once called “brother.”

Beaten and bloodied by the tribal warriors who kidnapped Rionach, Lord Kemp dé Lugh is interrogated by the King and sent to the Tenth Legion, the most fearful group of soldiers in the King’s army. Kemp must pass tests to stay with the legion. Failure is marked forever as a disgrace, and he would be left to wander the land as a beggar. But an even more sinister plot is at work that may keep Kemp and Rionach separated forever. 

Meanwhile, Fionn dé Lir, convinced that the druids are still alive, goes on a mission to find them. Fionn believes King Brés dé Morrigan is killing Éiliria, and he seeks the druids' help to unseat him. Fionn must join a druid (one he hopes isn’t senile) to infiltrate a castle full of people who would like to see Fionn dead and to rescue one who knows where the last living Nuada—the true heir to the throne—is hiding.