Author Description

"In a land rife with injustice, plague and peril, war rages between two kingdoms. A cryptic map delivered in a wooden box with a mysterious key holds a secret that eventually launches three teens on separate journeys, exploring a kingdom where all is not as it seems, intertwining their lives in ways they can't imagine. Hugh, a young blacksmith, struggles to lead a clandestine group after his father, its founder, is abducted. News of his father's fate propels him on a course of vengeance he is unable to control. Marie, the daughter of a knight, is convinced her family has abandoned her when she is sent away to a distant castle to be prepared for a future she rebels against. Upon her return, she is menaced by a danger she never contemplated and must chart her course through it. Stephen, a squire to the legendary Sir Bart, yearns to become a knight, but struggles with doubt and feelings of inadequacy as he attempts to master the requirements of knighthood. Each teen's loyalty to a king they have not seen is put to the test, and they must overcome individual challenges before they are able to continue on their journeys. Through a series of unexpected events their lives converge and they must trust each other in order to fulfill the quest their king has given them. But along the way each faces a moment of truth where their decision could mean life or death."--Amazon.com.