Jon Oklar

On the anniversary of his father's passing, Jon leaves home in search of answers. The land is full of mystery and intrigue, and Jon wants to explore it all with the dream of one day becoming a sorcerer. But when Jon receives an invite to the castle for training, he starts to believe there has to be a catch. A long time ago, Jon's father was once a guard near the capital city. Now Jon finds himself back where his father used to work, and he's beginning to learn why his father had wanted to raise him away from here. He will discover that, along with certain threats to the kingdom, there are also many magical arts to learn. Some seem stronger than others, but all have their use. Jon must come to understand the complexities of sorcery as he uncovers the mysteries and threats to the kingdom. But he also must learn to deal with the other sorcerers who have come to train at the castle at the same time as him...some of whom are hard to trust.

Illegal sorcery is on the rise. The quiet life Jon once had before venturing to the capital is but a distant memory. Murderous threats to the throne skulk through city streets. A rebellious army is growing. But the king-the overwhelmed ruler of Lycast who Jon has sworn to protect-is just one of many targets. The mages who use this illegal sorcery have a leader, and this leader wants something from Jon. It wasn't long ago that Jon came to the castle with seven other sorcerers desperate to prove themselves. While Jon considers many of them his friends, at least one might actually be his enemy. Those plotting against the king are everywhere, most posing as ordinary citizens. During the hunt for these sorcerers, Jon will learn just how powerful his own sorcery can become, but at what cost? Sacrifices must be made no matter Jon's choices. Whatever he decides to do, it has to be done quickly. The traitor in the castle is waiting for something, and no one seems to have any idea what it is.

Jon is the hand and will of the king against the growing shadow. Dark power stirs, giants about to clash. Jon has tasted the stench of death, and he knows he cannot face these challenges alone. Betrayal and suspicions among Jon's trusted friends threaten to tear asunder their fragile plans. A chance encounter with a powerful, unknown mage from the enemy kingdom could shift the delicate balance in Jon's favor. Can he look beyond his own suspicions and protect her long enough to earn the trust of his closest allies? Battles loom, forces are aligned, and help is in high demand. Taking risks is pivotal, and the fate of Jon's meager allies rests upon his decisions as never before. In Jon's journey to bring peace and stability to the kingdom, he will first have to harness chaos.

As Jon prepares for the inevitable battle with Rohaer, strategies must evolve in response to the enemy's overwhelming advantage. But Rohaer is not Jon's only concern. Political players among his allies may plan to use the upcoming strife as an opportunity to grab power for themselves. Jon must protect their king from an internal betrayal at the same time that they're defending their land from an unrelenting force bent on conquest. Hope is on the horizon, however, when hidden truths about sorcery are uncovered. From these discoveries, a new age will dawn: the rise and fall of legends. As Jon pushes himself to his limits, he will find himself right in the middle of it all. There's nowhere else he'd rather be.

Jon and his allies are far from home. An unstoppable force is coming, and a play for the crown has left their army broken. A choice must be made to side with the lesser of two evils. Will the ends justify the means? How much will have to be sacrificed to ensure some semblance of a future for Lycast? One thing is for certain. Jon and his allies must use everything available to them to get through this, and even then it might not be enough. To take on everyone who opposes their king means mysteries must be uncovered. It means Jon's people must regain the strength they lost after the betrayal. They will have to find support in places out of reach of their enemies, and fast. Soon the fray will ignite the fire that could destroy everything.