Derrexi Tzelan, eldest daughter of one of Solerne's top Noble Houses, arrives to the city of Beldatz under orders from the Empress. Her mission, as she is aware of it, is to train a detachment of Hawk Maidens, an elite female warrior order, from the local girls in preparation for the Festival of New Dawn. What she does not know is that she is to be the wildcard in the struggle between the city's political and supernatural factions, a conflict that unbeknownst to its players, has a deep relationship to the spiritual well-being of the Empire. Derrexi will find many allies and foes, both hidden and in plain view, as she strives to understand herself and the nature of the gods of Nahast and their eternal war.

Personal quests, epic destinies, and ancient secrets come together as ordinary people are thrust into extraordinary circumstances.