Publisher's Synopsis
"The Shadow of the Staff" is a fantasy novel that tells the story of peace and war on the mythical continent of Hatu. In the Beginning Times, thousdans of years ago, Hatu was settled by Dwarves, Elves, Men, Wizards, Orcs, and Trolls. Early on, an evil army led by the wizard Porttia threatened all of Hatu. Portti was defeated when his Great Staff of Power was unmade by the Great King, Master Milton Brew, and every five hundred years the Elves of Fallquint commemorate that event with the descendants of those who fought against Porttia. Master Burton Brew is the last Brew descendant to have carrrried the Great Staff of Power. Burton, a Myopian, has fondness for a peaceable and comfortable life. Journeying to the festivities, he and his mentor Tordin find ominous signs of marauding Orcs, and in Fallquint they learn that an army has overrun the Dwarf homeland of Rolling Hills. A new power has arisen to again threaten Hatu. Eleves, Dwarves, and Men must set aside petty differences that have come between them over the centuries and unite to fight Orcs and Trolls lef by the vengeful wizard Maloneaous. Burton is asked to carry a message from the Mindeloria, Elven king of Fallwuint, to the Dwarft kind of Doubblegate. But Burton is a reluctant hero who would rather be gardening in Myopia Possed of a magic sword called Warlight, Burton becomes a skilled fighter, and he develops powers of intuition that transform him into a great military tactician. As "The Shadow of the Staff" moves toward its climactic conclusion, Burton's powers are called upon to help stave off defeat in a battle that has Burton himself as the biggest prize.
