Not long ago the new king of Midlothia outlawed magic. Wizards were rounded up and put to death. The people hunted them down like bandits and strung them up or stoned them, all believing that they were better off without magic.
Now the kingdom is at war, and they are losing. If they don't come up with something soon, they will be overrun and swallowed into the empire to the northeast. The king's council advises him to seek out the wizards in hiding.
The archwizard sends Gidian, a powerful young mage, to help the king. Gidian is suspicious and paranoid, and rightfully so, but when he is sent on what he believes to be a useless quest he finds instead a vast source of power... and a new threat.
Things used to be so clear for Gidian, and he hated non-mages as much as they hated him. Now he finds himself torn between two sides, and he's determined he'll win both battles. Even if it kills him.