Time of Shadows

Daemon uth Friesard was never meant to be king. As the youngest of three royal sons, he should have been free to live the life of his choosing. It was tragedy that drove him into the role. A role he is ill prepared to handle. With all the pressures of a kingdom standing at the brink of war weighing down on him, Daemon follows the advice of his closest friend and arranges a marriage with an enemy princess in the hopes of attaining peace. Clayden Kiel took on the role of High Priest at an early age. As the kingdom's sole connection to their patron god, it's a role he takes very seriously. So seriously that a few words written by his former mentor in a journal were enough to push him into distancing himself from the only friend he's ever had. His hopes are that Daemon's marriage will not only bring peace to the kingdom, but give the king someone else to turn to in times of need. A greater threat than war with their neighbor is hanging over Phalindros and Clayden would do anything to keep that threat at bay. Even turning his back on the most important person in his life. But, the path to the future is never clear, and the gods play at a game mortals cannot hope to understand.

Reports of a dragon spotted in the Crystalline Mountains has King Daemon on edge. He'd rather not believe it's true, but a confirmation from the High Priest is hard to ignore. Del has a secret. One not entirely his own. A secret too dangerous to keep, yet one that if revealed could cost someone he cares for her life. When a vision forces Rowlin to leave his home and the only world he's ever known, he has no idea what lies ahead of him. Clayden realizes that to uncover the meaning of the words written in the book marked only with the name Spiros he must make a journey to a place he left long ago. A place to which he never intended to return. As Prince Dominus' fourteenth spring nears, he dreams of being king. And, if his mother has her way, those dreams may come true sooner than he thinks. The wheel of time continues to turn and each step taken, each choice made, pushes them all inexorably forward down the path toward the Watchtower. For there will be war, and neither gods nor men can stop it. The only questions that remain is where they will stand when the time comes, and which side will win.