By night, the Ankou is the most fearsome sword for hire in all the Five Lands - a legendary, permanently young mercenary, and its most abiding mystery. But when the sun rises, a dark magic leaves him no more than bones. Trapped in a cycle of death and resurrection, the Ankou wants only to find the final rest that has been prophesied for him, no matter the cost. When the kingdom of Kaer-Ise is sacked, Flora, a royal handmaiden, is assaulted and left for dead. Deeply wounded, heartbroken, and the sole survivor of the massacre, Flora wants desperately to be reunited with the princess she served and loved. She and the Ankou make a deal: He will help Flora find her princess and train Flora in combat, in exchange for her aid in breaking his curse. But it isn't easy to kill an immortal, especially when their bond begins to deepen into something more... Together they will solve mysteries, battle monsters, and race against time in this fantasy novel about sacrifice, love, and healing.