In 1893 Dallas, Texas and Annie Sakdavong has just graduated from college, top of her class, as a Steam Engineer but must still do an apprenticeship with a master engineer.  No man is willing to take her and she fears she may have to become a Sword Maiden for a merchant of her father's choosing when she runs into an African man who wants an apprentice as much as she needs a master, Issa Obasi.Enter Issa Obasi one of the premier engineers of the age. He wants to leave a legacy in the form of apprentices and publication of groundbreaking research into combining rune magic with steam power.  These two sources of power are at odds with each other but Issa sees there could be better way to unite them.Their world changes when a Native American who can walk through walls comes to steal that research and destroys Issa's laboratory during a fight.  After seeking help from the police, Issa and Annie are left to fend for themselves when the police, don't want to help the Negro man and the Asian woman with the investigation.Now their adventure takes them takes them to the Native Lands, a place west of the United States that stretches from El Paso to the Pacific and north into parts of Canada.  The action continues in Dallas as Issa's death tolls rise and villains close in on his life and the his work.  As they get closer to the truth they must overcome dangerous enemies, racism, and their own self-doubts to win the day.