Sarene: The Steadfast Princess. Sarene is the daughter of King Eventeo of Teod, a neighboring country of Arelon. Through a politically motivated marriage contract, Princess Sarene is also the lawful wife of Prince Raoden. However, she has never actually met the prince, and had only been able to communicate with him via letters. But so like minded were the prince and she, that Sarene fell in love with him even before their first face to face meeting.

Therefore, Sarene, is extremely saddened to learn of the supposed "death" of the Prince mere hours before her arrival in Kae, she is completely unaware of Raoden being stricken with the Shaod and banished into Elantris. Being legally binding, the marriage contract still stands even after the prince's "death" and forces Sarene to remain in Kae. But all is not well in the fair city...

Sarene quickly learns of a plot by the gyorn Hrathen and some of Kae's most powerful and influential nobles, to take over the city and replace the despotic king Iadon, with a new and even more corrupt government. Sarene realizes the need for fast action, and she gathers together the remaining nobles to fight against the darkness that threatens to overwhelm fair Arelon. Her intelligence and determination will be put to the test as she locks wits with the most powerful foe she has ever faced, Hrathen, the man who heralds the end to everything she knows and loves.