The Lady Farrel leaves the Elvin-Human Empire accompanied by three dwarves: the bardic mage, Spiro, his new apprentice Renara, and Tett, the bodyguard, whose wit is not exactly as sharp as his sword. Her quest is to save the life of her former fiancé, now in hiding after the murder of his father. Confronting creatures of Shadow, a wicked witch, and worse are among the challenges she and her friends will face- on a journey destined to lead to her death. Elsewhen in the Empire, a young Princess reads her story in a magic book. The words morph into an image of a robed adolescent looking up from reading fairy tales in the tower that serves as his temporary sanctuary. They stare at each other... Twisted fairy tales may prove to be not only Lady Farrel's only hope, but their world's.