 However, as the summer wears on and the war intensifies, events move to put that perverted mage and his conscienceless war-leader in Kel's path, and at last her resolve is tested, and she and all of Tortall find out if she is truly worthy of her shield.Kel tricks her guards into letting her slip away from them, and pursue a journey to bring back her stolen refugees.She is quickly accompanied by her friends, and once and for all, given the chance to earn her name as a Lady Knight, protector of the small.