Althurna at 12 years of age finds herself orphaned after the execution of her father for being a wizard, and now she is trapped in a life of servitude to Duke Rand and his family.
Worse yet, the duke has been appointed to a nearly forgotten castle in the northern hinterlands of Ursia. As a member of the noble family's servants, Althurna is obliged to travel the wilds with the family to the castle.
Upon arriving, the group finds the place deserted and in a shambles. Work begins to restore the castle and its grounds, but it is soon revealed the living are not the only inhabitants.
Finding the nobles and the servants suspect of Althurna because of her ties to magic, she soon learns to trust only one member of their party, Talkan, the barbarian guide.
But are a mage's daughter and a warrior with a steel blade any match for what haunts the castle?