Amid rising tensions between the people of Meli and the once venerated Wanderers, Aida's life is turned upside down. When her parents leave to seek justice for their people's suffering, Aida is forced to leave the safety of her home after she is accused of witchcraft.

Suddenly, she is in a race to find shelter before winter comes. Seriously ill and practically starving, Aida is saved by Bayan, a kindly old widow. During the winter, they shelter two Wanderers, Santiago, a courageous and handsome chieftain, and his friend, Jannik. They reveal the brutality King Ludlow is inflicting upon the Wanderers of Meli.  Innocent people are being locked up, beaten, or worse, put to death. Troupes are disbanding to stay alive.

Finding herself caught up in the Wanderers' desperate struggle for justice, Aida must confront her own prejudices and decide her future. Will she embrace the Wanderer blood that flows through her veins and join in the fight against tyranny, or will she remain silent in the safety of a sedentary life?  Moreover, will she ever see her parents again?