In the Kingdom of Sagitar, where Heaven's Rings shine, a maiden is captured, to be taster of wine; but her master is treacherous, and a pawn she is made, when he charges the king, to a contest of blade.  

SYNOPSIS:

The king is dead. Words that have, and will, alter history. The monarch's body is laid with his fathers and the mystical Wild Sword of Light is passed to his heir, Praxius. But the shifting of power is of little account to Arosia, a quick-witted Scorbon of the forest. Scavengers and scroungers are they; literally black-blooded. Many view them as common thieves, but a few keep greater abhorrence. These are the Knights of Blassphire, a cultish brotherhood that roams the country hunting the "inhuman vermin." They fall upon Arosia's camp, slaughtering all but her. A patrol of soldiers drives them to flight, but no pity does the survivor find in her rescuers, and she is imprisoned in the royal dungeon.

After three weeks pass, however, Arosia's bars change from physical to figurative, as her intimate knowledge of remedies brings her into the position of royal wine taster for the prince. At the palace, Arosia meets Queen Saraway, the first person in the city who actually extends kindness. Unfortunately, Saraway brings news of danger, as she believes the prince, her brother, is a Blassphire! Arosia is given no reason to doubt this upon meeting the prince and his churlish attitude, which he carries even into the next evening's summer banquet. The festivities are brought to an abrupt halt by a messenger from the Edict Lord Ember-bend, who has declared King Praxius unfit to rule, and challenged him to a Goyle Strife, a three-tiered contest in which the competitors battle ancient monsters and each other for the crown.

The king takes his retinue, including Arosia, to Oathsword Island to accept the challenge. Many join the tournament, including Jephthah! Shocked at the betrayal, Saraway conspires with Arosia to weed out what he is planning. As the sun sets, the first event begins, and the competitors battle savage, tiger-like Moromores! Later that night, Arosia returns to her chambers to find a Blassphire waiting there! He seizes the Scorbon and drags her down into the catacombs to be killed, but she manages to turn the tables! While seeking the surface, Arosia comes upon a whole mass of Blassphires, who are condemning none other than Jephthah! Even worse, Praxius and Saraway lead the mob, and they are given the honor of revealing Jephthah's black blood and branding him as a Scorbon!

The wicked siblings release their brother, and Arosia takes him under her care. They discuss much, and Jephthah learns of Arosia's past as an orphaned Scorbon, and she of his, as the late king's bastard. Now there is a problem, however, as the prince is too injured for the Strife. Without his consent, Arosia takes his place on Basilisk Island, where the competitors must obtain the shed skins of half-snake, half-human Willows.

While failing to do so, Arosia gains Jephthah's trust, and the prince opens up. Knowing how blood-stained Praxius' rule would be, Jephthah had secretly encouraged Ember-bend to initiate a Goyle Strife, but the Lord of Fire would only do so if Jephthah joined as well. Before any further discussion can be had, Arosia is summoned by Saraway. The queen reveals all, and after a bit of gloating, imprisons the Scorbon in the Dragon's Deep, where Jephthah is helpless to save her until the final event: defeating a dragon with the Willow skin and riding them against the remaining opponents. Praxius is the only one who manages this, and while Jephthah is able to free Arosia from the clutches of the dragon Scarstring, he pursues prince and taster out into the open air, where Praxius' dragon clashes with him! After a short but fierce battle, Scarstring kills Praxius, and descends in fire upon the spectators. But he has not counted on Ember-bend, who has mastered the dragon Welt-wind, and rides her against the wrathful serpent!

The duel is on land and in the air, but Ember-bend proves the victor! In the aftermath, Saraway, defeated in grief for Praxius, flees, and Jephthah stands down from the Strife, allowing Ember-bend to be crowned king. Arosia is given the chance to return to the forest, but finds she is more at home in the arms of Jephthah, who has been appointed an Edict Lord. The two Scorbons depart to the north of Sagitar, while Welt-wind flies high in freedom.