Sela Redheart is lost, driven from her home with only her old uncle to watch over her. As the dragon-born child of Kallon Redheart, she is now trapped in human form and can't seem to turn back. Vorham Riddess, Venur of Esra Province, covets the crystal ore buried deep in Mount Gore. His latest device to obtain it: land by marriage to a Leland maiden. Schemes begin to unfurl, and all is at risk as magic and murder strangle the heart of Esra Province. Surely Sela is the key to unlocking restorative magic for a crumbling world; but how can she begin to help when she doesn't understand her own transformation?