Five years ago, mute bonded servant Kaelen is rescued and taught magic by Duke Lysander, and quiet affection grows between them. When Lysander's family is framed for treason and reduced to bonded labor three years later, he drives Kaelen away to protect him. Three years on, Kaelen is the powerful Imperial High Priest, and a destitute Lysander is delivered to him disguised as a harpist. They reconcile, uncover the royal conspiracy, defeat the conspirators, and Lysander becomes king and abolishes all bonded servitude.