In the country of Carthya, a devious nobleman engages four orphans in a brutal competition to be selected to impersonate the king's long-missing son in an effort to avoid a civil war.

"It's been three months since Countess Annie de Silva slipped away from her home before dawn, leaving a cryptic note and no clue as to her destination. That's an eternity for friends as devoted as the Sisterhood. They've honored Annie's request for privacy long enough. Now they're desperate to ensure that their founding member is alive and well, and that means tracking her down--wherever in the world she might be. Myra Rutledge, Annie's closest confidante...