A coming-of-age novel that explores the quiet ways that boys begin to understand the world and emerge from the shadows of their fathers.

In the Kingdom of Gorum, thirteen-year-olds Ettan, Drogue, and Kemo dream of becoming knights, and for more than the title and armor. For Ettan, an orphan whose father had been a castle servant and left him with nothing, knighthood would mean a future better than managing the King’s hennery. Drogue, the son of the kingdom’s wealthiest lord, might finally earn his mercurial father’s approval. And Kemo, who is despised by some citizens for his dark skin even though his father is a war veteran, would gain acceptance.

When Ettan discovers a plot by Drogue’s father to lead an insurrection against the King, the three are swept into a series of events that involve a secret mission, hidden identities, and a lie that threatens to pull the kingdom into civil war. All three are forced to face certain truths about their fathers and recognize that being a knight is about doing what is right, no matter the personal risk or cost. What they each choose about their loyalties to family, friends, and justice will determine whether they achieve their dream—and the fate of the kingdom.