Despite being newly-crowned Queen of Quontiga, Castelle still feels like her authority is in the hands of the same moribund people who counseled her much-missed father. While she tries to suffer through these martial games arranged in celebration of her coronation, her advisors are nagging her to marry and produce an heir. There are also visitors from the other eight kingdoms, including two secretive people from a hostile neighbor. Is her life in danger on top of everything else? In a moment of frustrated and rebellious abandon, Castelle announces that she will give her hand to the winner of the games. But she has some of her own carefully-chosen events which she insists on adding to the tourney. The question remains, though: will she be able to even abide, let alone marry and find happiness with the winner? What if the winner is unacceptable to her? What if it's one of the female competitors? And who is this enigmatic and dangerous Lady Femarine, who seems to be stalking her in the hallways each night? Can Castelle find a winner? Or will she lose everything? One way or another, Quontiga is about to get an education. Let the games begin.