Barl Linden, a young and highly talented artesian Mage lacks the noble blood to fulfill her dreams and destiny. Resented by her fellow workers for her effortless skills she makes enemies quickly. Her high temper and heartfelt want for just treatment in an inherently unjust system have her storming away from employers and dragging her loving brother along in her wake. Remmie is Barl's twin and her equal in power, but his domestic ambitions set him at odds with her revolutionist ambitions. Remmie just wants a quiet life as a teacher where his willful sister will stop trying to singlehandedly take on the world and change it to suit her belief of right and wrong. Remmie accepts the order of the world and accepts the futility of Barl's struggle.

After yet another discordant separation from her current employer, Barl sneaks away in the night so her brother won't stop her from chasing her dreams and making a fool of herself again. She dreams of attending the college and storms it intent upon forcing them to admit her by virtue if her powers alone. She is denied and furiously lashes out with magic against the man who sought to force her from his chamber. The affair is taken to the ruling body concerning matters of magic - nobles all. One councilor, Morgan Danfey, takes an immediate liking to Barl and feels an irrational desire to protect her. He manages to convince the council that simply binding her powers and having her watched is enough punishment instead of enacting a death penalty. He then spirits her away to his estates to figure out how to woo her while not getting caught at it because a man of his station should not look to one so low born.