Raised among the ruins of a conquered mountain nation, Maren dreams only of sharing a quiet life with her girlfriend Kaia. When Kaia is abducted by the Aurati, prophetic agents of the emperor, Maren hatches a plan to steal one of the emperor's coveted dragons and storm the Aurati stronghold. To succeed she must become an apprentice to the Aromatory, the emperor's mysterious dragon trainer. As Maren uncovers dangerous secrets-- rumors of a lost prince, a brewing rebellion, and a prophecy that threatens to shatter the empire-- she also has dreams about a beast deep underground. -- adapted from jacket