Mykella, the eldest daughter of the Lord-Protector of Lanachrona, discovers that someone is diverting significant sums of money from her father's treasury. Soon a series of fatal and near fatal accidents occur to members of her family and trusted retainers. Her father is killed. Then there are attempt to remove Mykella and her sisters from the capital by marrying them off. While Mykella develops a solid idea of who stands behind it all, her every attempt at a solution is used to discredit her. But Mykella is also discovering her talent for magic.