Flora Fyrdraaca is the scion of a once-glorious family, but since Califa lost the War and her mother banished the magical butler who kept Crackpot Hall in order, Flora has been reduced to babysitting her crazy alcoholic father and mucking out the stables (as well as performing every other unpleasant chore that needs doing). As if this weren't bad enough, she's approaching her 14th birthday, the age at which all Fyrdraacas are expected to enter military training — but Flora would much rather be a Ranger, a spy who uses magic. When she accidentally stumbles across the banished butler, she thinks restoring him will solve at least a few of these problems. It doesn't.