After Tibbys brother died training her to be free she fights to live. She and her best friend Winwrey disguised themselves as men to keep themselves from becoming slaves. However, they can only keep each other safe for so long. They travel to find their safe place. The world is full of nothing but gangs and Mafia. The police are a bedtime story along with other stories she was told as a child. The people they rely on catch their attention in ways Tibby isn't ready for and never expected.