The land known as Queen's Basin is securely under Juniper's rule, and the time has come to focus on saving her father's kingdom. But before she can return to Torr, Juniper must find her subjects' missing horses, which were taken by a tribe of the Anju who live in the Hourglass Mountains -- the very tribe her mother once belonged to. Juniper arrives at the Anju settlement just as the tribe members are about to begin ritual trials to select their next leader. Juniper, whose mother had been next in line for the Anju throne, throws her own hat in the ring. As she competes, however, she must answer the question that's been tugging at her heart: Does she want to rule the Anju because they are her mother's people, or does she have less noble intentions in mind? Juniper must prove to everyone -- especially herself -- that she is a brave and strong ruler who puts all her subjects first.