When Reginald's father sends him to London to receive an education, he stays with a relative and a beautiful young heiress named Natalie. Reginald falls in love with her, but must attend a military academy where he's mistreated. Meanwhile, his great uncle is murdered, a will forged, and Natalie whisked away to steal her fortune.
Reginald vows to follow Natalie to India. En route, he's captured in Aqaba. Though he makes a daring escape across Sinai, finding Natalie seems impossible. Reginald is forced to take a commission as an ensign and finds himself on the remote and dangerous Northwest Frontier, embroiled in Britain's Third Afghan War.