Mari is being trained to follow her mother, warrior leader of the Atlantean Hill People. Unexpectedly thrust into a position of responsibility, she strives to make choices that are best for her and her people. Her story is told against a backdrop of deception and intrigue as she becomes entangled in the power struggles between her people and the rulers of the City of the Golden Gates. Events collide and she is forced to take on a momentous task, one that tests her love and trust in the traditions of her people and in those who are dearest to her: her mother, and the young man she loves. Mari believes she has failed the task and struggles to overcome her feelings of grief, guilt, and betrayal that threaten her very survival.