War looms on the horizon but Selene's training as a wizard must begin, even though her age makes success nearly unattainable. Will searches for a solution, but their only hope may be a dangerous bargain with the king.The fate of two nations lies on Will's shoulders and the future is paved with violence. With few options, he needs the aid of uncertain allies and dubious friends. Traitors lurk among them, and soon he will be forced to choose who to trust-and who to sacrifice. For a terrible power has arrived in Darrow, and the price of victory will be paid in blood. Michael Manning, a practicing pharmacist, has been a fantasy and science-fiction reader for most of his life. He has dabbled in software design, fantasy art, and is an avid tree climber. He lives in Texas, with his stubborn wife, two kids, and a menagerie of fantastic creatures, including a moose-poodle, a vicious yorkie, and a giant prehistoric turtle. The ancient wizards lifted humanity from superstition, but the rise of sorcery destroyed their wisdom and replaced it with easy power. Yet, the last wizard of the old ways still survives, and his apprentice will catalyze the emergence of a new age.
