Cylin has always known she had to watch out for herself, because no one else would. Warlords jealously hoard precious resources. Bandits lurk in the wastelands. Bone men collect the skin and bones of the living and dead alike for their experiments. No one gives anything for free.

When a stranger rescues her from an attack and brings her to his village, she thinks him a lunatic. Not only does Lucian claim not to hold any debt over her, he also claims to be one of the ancient elves of legend, said to possess magic to rival gods. Wary and suspicious, Cylin is determined to discover the truth.

What she learns about Lucian, about elves, and about herself changes everything she thought she knew.