Erlin, the cleverest man in Albion, is keeping a secret: there's no such thing as magic. This doesn't stop him from enjoying a comfortable job as the king's inquisitor, where he pretends to keep the kingdom safe from witches, warlocks, and anything else that frightens the superstitious people of Tomelac.
Erlin's carefree life falls apart when he's ordered to tutor Prince Garth, a clueless boy who has never learned a thing. When Erlin uncovers a plot to assassinate the prince, the two of them are forced to flee the kingdom. As they travel together, Erlin begins to see potential in the young man as a future king.
But their journey is complicated by the arrival of Morrigin, a mysterious woman who confounds Erlin at every turn, causing him to question everything he knows.
Deciding that Garth is the best hope for the dark times that have come to Albion, Erlin takes on the impossible task of teaching the prince while leading him through a world more dangerous-and more magical-than he ever wanted to believe.