Following the events of Silver, Sand, and Silken Wings, something stirs in the Great Desert.
"Beware the Stone Queen's hoard beneath the sand." Awaking after several decades of petrification, Asteria faces immediate betrayal at the claws of her sister Beryll, and a strange pathwalker. They have one goal in mind: Conquer the desert and crown her sister as its new queen. The key to their success lies buried beneath the sands, a deadly army of statues. Barely escaping the ambush alive, the young dragoness finds herself lost in a future that no longer cares about great houses and her royal status. All allies of the past have forsaken her and the only help comes in the shape of a guild mandated guardian; A scarred, wingless Aer wielding dreadful manners and worse humor. In the wake of a great storm and through the thicket of wild islands, Asteria's path leads deep into her past as her disorganized retinue struggles to keep ahead of their pursuers. Little does she know about her true enemies plotting against her in the dark corners of the sands.