A thief was the last thing Realta Haar expected to find in her family's barn. As a reward for the thief's capture, Realta and her friends are given admittance to the prestigious Academy of Teyrnas, an opportunity none of them can afford to miss. When they are attacked on the road, Realta is separated from her friends with only the thief to rely on. Together, they must navigate a world of magic and politics as well as their own roles in a looming conflict in order to survive.