When Wilfort leaves his homeland of Islewylde to go to Verdeland and compete in combat tournaments of horsemanship and swordsmanship, he takes his young cousin, Amara, with him. The only caveat is that, in Verdeland, it is forbidden for women to take up arms so Amara must pretend to be a boy. Meeting Artemis, a young knight from an old family, Amara finds herself torn between her necessary pretense and her heart. As rumors of errant warriors and blood sickness threaten her new homeland, Amara must make a choice to either embrace the role the Goddess Eraste has deemed her worthy of, or continue to live a lie and silently watch as those she loves are put in grave danger. The question is, can she find a way to save her countrymen without sacrificing herself?