Jai lives as a royal hostage in the Sabine Court, ever since his father Rohan, leader of the Steppefolk, led a failed rebellion and was executed by the very emperor Jai now serves. When the emperor's son and heir is betrothed to Princess Erica of the neighboring Dansk Kingdom, she brings with her a dowry: dragons. But conspirators lurk in the shadows, and soon the Sabine Court is in chaos