A standalone prequel novella from the world of the global bestselling fantasy phenomenon THE PRIORY OF THE ORANGE TREE.

The story is told from the perspective of Marosa Vetalda, Crown Princess of Yscalin. Living in the capital city of Cárscaro, Marosa is still in mourning her beloved mother, Queen Sahar, who died under mysterious circumstances. Her cold and highhanded father, King Sigoso, allows her little freedom. She hopes her marriage to Prince Aubrecht of Mentendon will give her more power to determine her own fate. She often writes to Queen Sabran, who she remembers fondly from the last time she was allowed to visit Inys.

Draconic creatures have been slowly waking in the mountains around Cárscaro, which Sigoso has concealed from his people. One night, an earthquake racks the city, and the wyrm Fýredel – leader of the Draconic Army – awakens for the first time since the Grief of Ages. In a single terrifying night, the capital falls to a flock of wyverns. Fýredel makes a puppet of Sigoso, leaving Marosa a prisoner in her own home, forced to swear allegiance to the Nameless One. All ambassadors are stopped from leaving. The Privy Council sends out birds to announce the conversion, and lava breaks into the city, creating a river of fire.

Over the ensuing months, Fýredel sends his wyverns out to raze Yscalin, making sure no trace remains of the Six Virtues of Knightood. Marosa tries in vain to ask her former allies for aid, but no bird can leave the city without being killed. The people begin to suffer from the Draconic plague, formerly known as the red sickness, which has leaked into their water supply. Marosa slowly falls into despair, hoping that Prince Aubrecht will come for her, but knowing he likely thinks her complicit.

A woman named Jondu is brought to the palace and tortured in the dungeon. She entrusts Marosa with a strange box, pleading with her to get it to the Erysri envoy, Chassaruq-Ispad. In desperation, Marosa approaches Lord Wilstan Fynch, the Inysh ambassador (and father of Queen Sabran), and asks him to do it for her, not wanting to leave her people. Fynch agrees, but loses his nerve at the last second, abandoning the box and making a doomed attempt to escape to Inys. When she realises that Fynch has failed, Marosa loses all hope.