held captive in the barbarian kingdom of venda lia and rafe have little chance of escape desperate to save lias life her erstwhile assassin kaden has told the vendan komizar that she has the gift and the komizars interest in lia is greater than anyone could have foreseenmeanwhile nothing is straightforward theres rafe who lied to lia but has sacrificed his freedom to protect her kaden who meant to assassinate her but has now saved her life and the vendans whom lia always believed to be savages now that she lives among them however she realizes that may be far from the truth wrestling with her upbringing her gift and her sense of self lia must make powerful choices that will affect her country and her own destiny