Five years after the defeat of the Despot, the southern country of Santerre has finally recovered from his rule and sends an embassy to Dalanine. Piercy Faranter, government agent and man about town, receives an assignment to watch over the princess of Santerre, who is disguised as one of her own ladies in waiting. It's a task perfectly suited to his charm and reputation with attractive young ladies, but proves to be more of a challenge, both personally and professionally, than he ever could have anticipated.The beautiful Ayane Caligwe seems shy, but Piercy finds behind her coy smiles she's more than a match for him in cunning and cleverness. But when a rogue magician opens a portal to the past, dragging Piercy and his reluctant charge with him, they are both forced to put pretenses aside.Trapped in a time two hundred years before his own, Piercy finds himself embroiled in a mystery whose roots are a thousand years deep. With time running out, he and Ayane must work together to stop the magician's madness-even if it costs them their lives.