Sage and three other orphans are selected by the king's regent to vie for the role of the long lost prince of Carthya. The regent, Connor, is trying to avoid civil war but is devious and a rather suspicious character. He pits them against one another to select the strongest candidate. In two weeks time they must prove that they should be the chosen one. This book is the first in the mefantasy Ascendency trilogy. It is action-packed and filled with intrigue and surprises.