Waterford Byse is no prince, but when foreign mercenaries slaughter the inhabitants of the royal castle, he vows to become one. Using the weight of a stolen crown, he builds a kingdom of lies, drawing friend and foe alike into his traps.

Patty is no warrior, but she must kill in order to save the life of a child. Through violence, stealth, and the unexpected help of those who should be dead, this cook's apprentice launches a campaign of madness and sabotage against the mercenary invaders. They took everything from her, but she will not let them take the child she protects.

Each step they take brings them closer to their enemies and to each other. They will face fire and death and the horrors of their own actions as they each discover for themselves what lies beneath a crown.