In a mystical Andean
Shangrila, Tali, a fifteen year old warrior, uncovers a dark conspiracy
that threatens the very existence of the realm.
Talimendra has
always wanted to join the ranks of the Queen's legendary army: the
Second Guard. And she isn't the only one. In the realm of Tequende, all
second-born children must report for service to the crown at the age of
fifteen. Only two hundred out of nearly a thousand pledges will be
chosen after their training.
But the Guard may not be as great as Tali thought. There is a dark rumor surrounding one of her teachers,
Centurio Jaden, who happens to be the youngest Second Guardsmen and the
most dangerous. Thankfully, Tali isn't alone. Her new friends, Zarif, an insightful and at times overly curious Moon Guilder, and Chey, a quiet
and humble Earth Guilder, are there to help. Together they begin to
unravel a conspiracy that could bring down the entire Tequendian Empire. Could Jaden be involved? And after knowing years of peace, will Tali
and her fellow pledges find themselves caught in the middle of a vicious war?