A boy thief who has betrayed his only friend finds himself caught by Witch Keepers and unwittingly at the heart of a conspiracy to kill a king and seize a city. He must win the Keepers over and plot a daring rescue. His only hope are a scared young girl Keeper and the Sword Wife, but she will demand a cruel price - can he keep her calm long enough to save his friend, the fate of the city and his own life.