When the death of Iron Queen Sarelin Brey fractures the realm of Elira, Lysande Prior, the palace scholar and the queen's closest friend, is appointed Councillor. Publically, Lysande must choose the next monarch from amongst the city-rulers vying for the throne - including the mysterious prince Luca Fontaine, who seems to shift between ally and rival. Privately, she seeks to discover which ruler murdered the queen, suspecting the use of magic. Far from this, the White Queen is stirring and her ally - a traitor among the royal milieu - threatens the entire realm.