Kardith the Ranger -- exiled from her own people, she'd found a new home, family, and purpose among the Rangers, patrolling the borderlands known as the Ridge to protect the people of Laurea from invasion by the norther barbarians. So when Aviyya, her closest comrade-in-arms, mysteriously disappeared into the badlands, Kardith had no choice but to journey to the capital to win permission to venture into forbidden territory on a desperate rescue mission.But all Kardith's hopes were struck down when an assassin's blade claimed the life of Laurea's beloved leader, Pateros. Determined to save Avi even against orders, Kardith joined forces with her friend's younger brother Terricel, heir to one of the most powerful women in the government yet treated by his mother as little more than a clerk. With Laureal City in turmoil, the two had only each other to turn to for help, and together they set off into the wilderness in search of Avi, thus beginning dangerous odyssey which would take them into theheart of enemy territory to uncover a secret beyond their wildest imagining....