When political conspirators murder his father, Prince Lanson of Lochlaund flees for his life. He falls in love with a beautiful tavern maid who is hiding from the moral condemnation of the powerful Lochlaund church, which has a stranglehold on the kingdom. Ultimately Lanson must decide whether to release her to the church's legalistic justice or defy the church and save her life by wedding her. This mythical story of freedom, justice, and forbidden love is the second book in "The Seven Kingdoms Chronicles."