A young artist desperate to be free.For nearly seven years, Lael Verane has lived under the ever watchful eye of her stepmother. Forbidden from leaving the grounds of the estate and locked away whenever visitors come to call, Lael's only solace is in her art. There's just one problem, due to another of her stepmother's strange restrictions, art is not welcome at Avarill.A prince on a mission.

Agents of the Crown have been dying and elves are disappearing from across Rynn. Prince Nathyn Trysele is determined to find out why. His only clue? A letter from the deceased spymaster, but he's convinced that the answers he seeks are buried somewhere in the Caeth night-markets.

But not everything is at it appears and, in a kingdom where art guilds and magic collide, deadly secrets lie buried that could tear the kingdom apart.