India, 1818. While escorting a young woman across a dangerous and lawless land, Lieutenant Colonel Richard Sharpe and Sergeant Major Patrick Harper become embroiled in a perilous journey through territory threatened by bandits, unrest, and hidden enemies. When violence leaves a vulnerable wagon train in desperate need of leadership, Sharpe is forced to take command and guide its occupants to safety. But as the journey unfolds, Sharpe uncovers signs of a far-reaching conspiracy that threatens far more than the lives under his protection.