In this prequel to ""The Lord of Shadows,"" Nire is only five when she is discovered hiding in a partially burnt cupboard by a demon Lord. On Campaign through the South, the Lord of Shadows has little choice but to take the orphaned girl with him. Dismissing all other options, he brings the child to Eastcastle where she quickly grows into a young woman. But as time goes by he notices that something seems to be different about the girl. As tensions rise between the East and South Nire gets caught in the rivalry, and struggles to find her place in Lucian's world. Complete with 10 chapter illustrations.