Liarry of Westlake, an aging bard and once member of The Crossed Blades adventuring band has returned from an extended period of study to find his group's base of operations in ruins and his former comrades slaughtered. Most were slain in a failed mission seven years ago escorting a young female noble to her wedding - a wedding destined to unite the baronies of the Marches against the threat of Queen Anne of Twin Peaks and her armies! The secrecy of the route to be taken points to a betrayal from within the Blades' ranks.
The minstrel has hired a young adventuring group, who call themselves The Flametongues to unravel the mystery surrounding the failure of his fallen comrades in their final mission and, if possible, to help thwart the Queen's machinations against the Marches. Assassins, an old ally turned foe, Queen Anne's cleverness, and the death of nearly anyone who could assist in these endeavors are not all that stand in the way of the Liarry and his new allies.