The King of Kastnia has fallen into moral depravity and corruption, goaded on by plotting and immoral nobles and wayward clergy.  The Good Queen Margarette struggles to keep the country she loves falling into disrepair, but when the King's latest obsession would have her left as collateral damage, she finds herself fearing not only for her country, but her life. She seeks out help from an unlikely source, a young woman from the Swift family who possesses a unique set of skills.   The messenger Swift quickly finds herself mixed up in everything from glittering balls and treacherous politics, to strenuous journeys, and the confusing world of love.  Will she succeed in aiding the Queen? Will she even survive?