When Robert’s mother dies, his whole world caves in on him. Fatherless, he has no one, and nowhere to go. The royal mage shows him kindness by putting him on the royal guard as a “boot” to keep a roof over his head. Robert’s quick wit and willingness to help others serve him well in the guard. He becomes friends with the king’s second son, Randal, who was placed in the guard by the king to teach him discipline. As he ages, he develops mage abilities but keeps them secret.

While on a weekend pass in the city, Robert saves Randal’s life and is rewarded by being made Randal’s liegeman. Robert is moved from the guard to the royal castle and begins specialized training to serve as Randal’s liegeman. Robert sees this as a step up in life and is doing well until he has a run-in with Randal’s brother Raymon, the crown prince.

Prince Raymon is a vindictive bully and tries to blind Robert while sparring. Though Raymon misses, enemies are made. To keep them separated, the king sends Robert to work for the royal spymaster, then on to train as a spy and assassin with the Congee spy guild. Robert returns home after five years of training, where his mage abilities continue to grow, and finds that Raymon has killed his father the king.

Raymon is now the new king. His friend, the royal mage, is in the dungeon, and Prince Randal is being held in the tower awaiting the new king’s pleasure. Robert visits the royal mage in the dungeon to find out what is going on. They decide that the kingdom, and a lot of people, will not survive Raymon’s rule.