Hazeldeen, daughter of King Ascot, has escaped from her home with Hezlett and Porter to evade her crime of simply having a disability. They remain in hiding but the Kings mysterious assassin Strath is hot on their trail, and closer than they realise. When Hazeldeen disappears, it is up to Hezlett to embark on a journey with her brother Porter that could not only save Hazeldeen, but all those in the kingdom marred as freaks and abominations.