Princess Casica Elespoir was born a condemned woman. The victim of an ancient covenant, The Edict, Casica must leave her home and surrender her life to the enemy kingdom of Byzanthia. Waiting for her, there, are two strangers as unnerved by their roles in The Edict as Casica: Bastien, the fifth son of King Ars, hated by his father for reasons he cannot know; and Clarece, the maimed leader of the castle slaves. All in the Byzanthian kingdom know of the alien princess' reputed gift of healing and of her mystical necklace. But no one knows her heart. Is Princess Casica coming to heal the enemy land or to destroy it? As for Casica, she knows her survival of this transfer from her kingdom to Byzanthia will require a miracle. But even if she does survive, what then? In a land known for death and bondage, what will become of someone whose very name means "Life"? The Edict is summoning her. Casica is about to find out.