Aymara Keeper's world remains exactly as it was at the moment of the Emperor's death. If nothing changes, everything on Thoslon will die. But the solution could be within her tavern-a winged child who may be the One to Follow, the Emperor's heir. She must take him to the Emperor's cloud palace to claim what she believes could be his birthright. Trellor Forge believes that the Emperor's death could herald the return of the Other Time, the years before the Emperor united Thoslon and banished the four warring lords to their mountain castles. It is time for the people to take control of their lives instead being imprisoned in tradition that dictates every part of their lives. Together, as they journey and struggle to protect the child from greedy warlords, they learn not only their world is endangered. Their hearts are, too, when they learn the greatest danger could be falling in love.