Publisher's Synopsis
Loric of Taeglin lives on a farm, set apart from the succession war that divides Beledon. He arms himself from the chamber beneath the barn and leaves Taeglin with intent to become a soldier. Along the way, he encounters brigands, a pacifist princess from a foreign land and a Lord of Beledon loyal to Lord Garrick. The lord recognizes the armor Loric wears. He demands that Loric swear an oath of fealty to him and serve him as squire.Loric takes interest in Princess Avalana of Regalsturn and uncovers a plot to take her life. Amidst trials of the heart and dangers of assassins, Loric must contend with lies of lords. He also prepares for war against the barbarian usurper, King Turtioc of Nindronburg.Battles sway on Loric's actions. He is a hero, torn between his duty and his love for Avalana.Meanwhile, King Hadregeon of Landolstadt forsakes his sworn truce with Garrick to make war upon him. Durbansdan is torn apart by Hadregeon and Turtioc. Between them, those two rivals to Garrick's throne scatter the Army of Durbansdan, leave Garrick despondent for a son missing and likely dead, and capture Moonriver Castle, along with Princess Avalana. In addition, Loric and a handful of companions--one, the unlikely Barag--are driven into the Enchanted River and Lost Hills, away from Lord Garrick's host.Loric survives the dragon water from the Enchanted River, which gives him dragon eyes, as part of its curse upon him. However, he and his companions are cornered between an enemy army, a lost province and former seat of the kingdom that is overrun by dragons and Dimwood Forest. Loric chooses the haunted forest and finds secrets to help him fulfill his father's quest, which could decide the Succession of Beledon. He must first recover the Dragon's Eye, which lay hidden and guarded at a place marked on his father's map as The Blood of Logant.
