Book one in the Mages of Garillon series.
CARADOC has been expelled from the Order of Mage-Hospitallers despite his astonishing talent because he cannot control his violent nature. Although he has failed to discipline himself as a mage must, he still has his mage-stone in his possession. BORTHEN, the arch criminal and renegade sorcerer, has uses for Caradoc and his stone. He draws him into a plot that involves kidnapping Evelake, the heir to the throne, and threatens the whole of Garillon.
GWYNMIRA, Evelake's stepmother, wishes to see her own son GYTHE on the throne, and she does not care who she has to destroy to achieve her end. MARGOTH, Caradoc's sister, and SERDOR, Caradoc's minstrel friend, must find him before he is drawn too deep into Borthen's evil to be saved.
As Caradoc wrestles with his conscience, he must defeat Borthen's corrupt power to save himself, Evelake, and perhaps even the Order itself.