Mehlis' return to Herridon leaves her still wondering where her place might be. Knowing Corydon will never be her home again, she and Xia find themselves in Herridon City. Unable to expose their relationship, Mehlis knows she needs to find somewhere the two of them can be together without risk, even if it means she'll have to marry someone else. In the crown city, she meets Garren, Nahtan's brother and future lord of Theryl Hold. From Garren, she learns more of just what her brother Gahrit was willing to do to protect her when her world fell apart, as well as his own struggles with the weight of taking on this new hold in the kingdom. As Mehlis continues to search for her place, the minstrel Tabari is tasked by the goddess Halona to begin retelling the stories of old Theryl Hold, before it fell to ruin. Tabari's certain the goddess is up to something, but can't tell what, especially when she sends one of her servants to help him.