The northern wizard prepares to invade the realm, and Preem the Bone Crusher needs two things to have any chance. An apprentice and the master wizard’s stone hidden in the Barrens. But when he finds a boy with the latent ability, he discovers he is actually a farmgirl named Brodia, and the king has forbidden women wizards. Deciding to test her, he sets off for the Barrens and the master d’dec that has killed every other wizard trying to claim it as their own.

As they trudge across the farmlands and dark forests, an apprentice of the northern wizard stalks them. A psychopathic killer, he dreams of watching Brodia’s eyes fade as he strangles her.

Join Brodia’s fight in a world that outlaws strong-minded women.