For centuries, the Kingdom of Eledore has relied upon the kainen race's natural magical talents to retain its elevated and seemingly impervious status in the world, particularly above the humans in Acrasia. Plots and assassination attempts grow against the royal twin heirs, Nels and Suvi, as the Acrasians seem to be doing more than saber rattling against what they see as an evil, tyrannical nation. Nels, the only kainen in Eledore to study the Acrasians, understands the threat they pose and relinquishes his standing as heir to join the army, while Suvi supports the kingdom from within as admiral of the dwindling Eledorian navy and the new heir to the crumbling throne. Slow to change, the Eledorians soon face the Acrasians' vast military armed with muskets and cannon. But a revolution is coming, and along with it the possible end of a kingdom. The assumptions of generations will be turned on their head as kainen and human clash, love and friendship are found and tested, and war comes as unwelcome as cold iron