Fourteen-year-old apprentice historian Rowan stumbles upon an ancient map hidden in her academy's forbidden archives, showing the location of King Brann's lost staff, a legendary artifact that once united the fractured kingdoms five hundred years ago. When her discovery attracts the attention of the ruthless Collector who hoards magical artifacts for power, Rowan flees with the rebellious knight-in-training Cassia and the mysterious cartographer Sterling who claims to have been searching for the staff his entire life. Racing across treacherous terrain from the Crystal Wastes to the Singing Caves, they must solve riddles left by King Brann himself while staying ahead of the Collector's hunters. As Rowan uncovers the truth about why the staff was hidden rather than passed down, she learns that some artifacts are lost for good reason, and that finding them may cost more than she's willing to pay.
