Publisher's Synopsis
"Long live the mighty emperor!"
The jungle has been without a leader for a very long time... and most agree that times are good.
Zander, a short-hair orphan of the Great Dying, is a simple student when he discovers an ornate scepter abandoned in a damp cave. Believing it to be of historical significance, he rushes to show it to his teacher. On the way, he is set upon by rogue bandits.
Surrounded and afraid, Zander accidentally realizes the scepter's true capabilities. Sparks fly from the end and his voice is amplified to a roar. His would-be attackers cower in fear!
Such power is intoxicating.
Instead of returning to his mundane life, he leads a group of ruffians and conquers other simian factions throughout the jungle. They renovate an abandoned city and Zander is declared king. Swept up by the trappings and duties of power, he struggles to do more good than harm. Unfortunately, most of the problems he and the other jungle inhabitants face are caused by his generals and army.
It isn't long before much of the world bows to him. He is crowned emperor. But his rule is short-lived. Betrayed, he loses everything. The real adventure is just beginning. Can he survive or find peace within a community of displaced, harassed travelers? What will happen if they find out he was the cause of their predicament?
He longs to set things right, even if he must be held responsible for some of the hard times. Sometimes, one must lose everything to gain understanding and peace.
