Allanna, Princess of Santra, has it all: five best friends who support her every belief, the life of a princess. Ignoring her fathers courts grumbling, Allanna has rebelliously grown up riding warhorses, wearing mens pants, and practicing swordcraft. Her friends are right behind her: Tempar, almost her match in swordplay; quiet Ratisha, who follows Tempars every wish; boisterous Megan, who is outspoken in every way; passive Sasha, who knows exactly what she wants and who she is; and silent Amelia, quiet but always there. Allanna has several rules that she is very positive about. She is very, very against all types of bonds. Though her position as a princess bonds her to her country, Santra, she doesnt seem to care. The bonds she is most vehemently against are people treating her likeand calling hera lady, expecting marriage and children. She would almost rather die than have these things tie her down. Allannas five friends have never objected to this belief, and so Allanna never thought of it. But she begins to grow wary when Tempar objects to her keeping some men from courting Sasha and Amelia. But still, she never thinks that Tempar would ever relate it to her. And so when, one day after swords practice, Tempar proposes to her, Allanna panics. She flees, along with Megan, Sasha, and Amelia, heading north, away from Santran civilization. But Tempar will stop at nothing to have Allanna at his side, and she soon learns the hard way that in order to save Santra and the rest of FalTarra from destruction, she must be prepared to take her throne backif she can.