Bound by oath to serve Princess Edera as he served her father, since the old king's passing it has been Lord Ranin's sacred duty to keep the naive, headstrong 18-year-old safe and her realm free. But when Edera ignores his dire warnings and rides out to meet the tyrannical Emperor Comnar on her own, her foolishness has a terrible price. Seizing the opportunity to conquer her lands without a fight, Comnar takes Edera prisoner.

Ranin sets out to treaty with Comnar and bring her home, but the emperor shows no interest in negotiations. Instead he shows Ranin his stables, filled not with horses but with beautiful women from conquered nations: fillies to be trained and displayed for the emperor's pleasure. To Ranin's horror Edera and her ladies-in-waiting are the newest additions to Comnar's stables, and like all the other fillies they have been stripped of their clothes and now wear nothing but bridles, harnesses, bits, and horsehair tails.

To complete the humiliation of his captured enemies, Comnar commands Ranin to train Edera personally for her new role as a filly, informing him that if he does not train the princess himself, a far harsher trainer will be found for her. With no other choice, Ranin sets out to master the princess, training her with a firm hand, as he would a young filly in the royal stables of his homeland, where he was once the master of horses.

Despite her great shame at her treatment, Edera is secretly comforted by Ranin's control and attention. She soon finds herself longing for her new master to ride her long and hard, and Ranin finds in time that he can no longer resist his little filly's charms. But when the occasion arrives to perform in front of the emperor and his people, will Edera's training have been sufficient? Can Ranin ever free Edera from Comnar's tyranny, or will his princess spend her life in the emperor's stables?

Cover by Korey Mae Johnson, by kind permission of Stormy Night Publications.