Yvane, the Vandrian Queen, has ruled her kingdom without fear for centuries as guardian of Viola, the Violet Tourmaline, an ancient gem with great power. However, when a stranger breaks through the magical defenses of her kingdom with the assistance of the forgotten Blue Tourmaline, her assurances of peace vanish. In the wake of this breach, two children, Ricardine and Biron, escape with a valued manuscript, forcing Yvane to begin a search for them and the knowledge of the Tourmalines that evades her. Yvane, who is protected by a cohort of her loyal subjects, thus journeys into the lands that surround her kingdom, prompting events that will alter the Vandrian perception of the world and their relationship with its people.