Stone Cycle

A talisman that unmasks thoughts, desires, deepest secrets. The fate of kingdoms depends on mastering its power and protecting it... The untroubled world of young Thomas Stablehand is changed forever when he stumbles upon an unusual stone. With the thoughts and intents of others laid bare to him, he eagerly indulges his curiosity. But seeing into other minds isn't like Thomas expected. And troubles are only beginning. Invaders attack the kingdom of Arvenon, and Thomas has nowhere to turn except to his friend Will Prentis, a gifted and ambitious leader who has risen rapidly in the ranks of the king's army. Will is fearless, and where he leads men follow. With the kingdom on the brink, Will leads a small band on a perilous quest to thwart the invaders. Fearing his secret will be exposed, and hoping to help prevent catastrophe, Thomas flees with them. But dangerous enemies seek the stone for their own ends. As Will faces a relentless opponent whose true purpose remains hidden, Thomas must decide what price he's willing to pay to protect the stone and preserve the kingdom.

The ripples begin to make waves. Thomas Stablehand's life is not the only thing spinning out of control since he found the stone. Entire kingdoms are now in turmoil. Will Prentis, newly appointed as army commander, must outmaneuver a growing array of enemies as he prepares for an unequal showdown with Arvenon's invaders. Thomas, hunted unceasingly, must sacrifice all to safeguard the stone. The fate of kingdoms soon hinges on them as they confront a ruthless invader hiding a darker purpose. The odds are hopeless. And for three kingdoms, the stakes are higher than anyone knows.

The invasion is over, and the survivors of the shattered Rogandan army have straggled home. The people of Arvenon and the surrounding kingdoms are at peace. Or so they believe. Little do they know that a new stone of power has emerged, controlled by a cruel tyrant bent on destruction. But King Agon of Rogand lusts after much more than conquest. He will settle for nothing less than unending power. No armies are massing at the border. The kingdoms face a threat from within. As chaos spreads, Will, Steffan, Essanda, and Arvenon's other key defenders are each confronted with crisis. If any one of them stumbles, the kingdom will fall.

Arvenon is controlled by a traitor. The kingdom of Castel teeters on the brink. With the unseen hand of King Agon of Rogand pulling the strings, a mantle of oppression is slowly settling over the four kingdoms. Now recovered from the assassination attempt, King Steffan of Arvenon sets out to wrest back control of his kingdom, vigorously supported by Will, Rufe, Thomas, and their allies. Unlikely influences might ultimately tip the balance. In a desperate attempt to block Agon, Will and Thomas set out for Rogand. What each of them encounters there will shake them to the core. The fate of four kingdoms will hinge upon “The Stone of Authority”.

When the abduction of an imperial princess sparks a tense standoff between Rogand and the distant Empire of Ahr, the dispute threatens to engulf Arvenon and its allies. Hurrying to the Rogandan capital with an Arvenian delegation, Will joins the kings of Rogand, Castel, and Varas to plan a response. The upheavals that overtake them quickly thrust all else aside. While the Grand Vizier of Ahr ruthlessly pursues his secretive agenda, mystery, and suspicion swirl around the long-lived High Priest of the Rogandan Dark Gods. No one is prepared for the emergence of the Stone of Vitality.