Young Kian has no memory of his parents, and his markings are different from those of other men in the tribe. Who is he? What mystery is concealed in his past?

***1st place Reader Views Literary Award 2010 winner in the Young Reader category***

Lord Arkus of Blackriver Castle readily admits that he is a villain and sees no reason why it should stop him from being the protagonist of this book. After all, Prince Kellemar, an aspiring hero, has defeated him in a rather questionable way. Bent on revenge, Arkus attempts to capture a powerful evil spirit who would make him nearly invincible, but a last-minute mistake leaves him with a Sparkling instead—“a goody-goody spirit that helps heroes, watches over little children, and messes up villains’ plans.” Bound to Lord Arkus for five years of service and sworn to act in his best interests, the Sparkling is not easy to get rid of, and of course his understanding of “best interests” is quite different from what Lord Arkus has in mind.

Having completed his difficult journey, Jecosan makes it to his destination – the king's palace – but so has his enemy, whom he is yet to discover. Jecosan enters in service to the king as a kitchen worker, proving himself worthy of the task and more. Still, he has much to learn while looking to fulfill his purpose. Although court life is luxurious and splendid, it is also complicated, with its hidden laws and unspoken rules. King Alvard III is a young and ambitious monarch whose hot temper is only restrained by one fearless lord, and in the presence of his sister, Princess Arvelina. Seeking counsel from the magician Henky-Roo, the king orders for the ancient Book of Light to be stolen from the neighboring kingdom of Tirgan. Little does he know that in doing so he may destroy his own country and people. Reports of a mysterious horseman being seen throughout the area thwarting the army and deterring the plans against Tirgan only infuriate the king.

Having done his best to fulfill the commission given him by a supernatural messenger, yet apparently having failed to do so, Jeco and his friends, Dalian and Lord Farizel, find themselves running for their lives from the wrath of King Alvard III. When the king pays dearly for his mistake, the nine-year-old Princess Arvelina is elevated to a position she could not have anticipated. While the Meorian army marches toward Tirgan to destroy the Book of Light as originally planned by Alvard, it seems all hope is lost to stop a war between the two nations as the Tirganians have begun moving their troops in response. Disobedience, although done out of best intentions, throws the conflict into an event of extortion of life and death, leaving the Tirganian king, Ez-Keramon, to decide the fate of a dearly beloved young man. Without intervention by the Lord of the heavens the two nations face the judgment of a blood bath. Individual character qualities and actions bring to each their own penalties and rewards, as well as the effect they have on others.

"I am a very unhappy man… Misrepresented and misunderstood," says the mysterious owner of the Dark Castle, greatly feared by all. Is it true? Can he be trusted? And is his magical gift a wonderful blessing or a dangerous trap? That's what Rogan, a careless wanderer and a gambler, has to find out.

His father killed in war before he was three, his mother unexpectedly dying when he was eight, Jecosan Tarres is young and poor, yet he has something not many men have: a faithful heart, a strong spirit, and the knowledge of truth taught to him by his mother and the priest Shaledan. Alone for a year, but later befriended by Dalian the blacksmith, he has already beaten the odds of being destitute and forgotten, but clearly something or someone is at work in his life. With his faithful dog Gart and his friend Dalian he sets out on a life defining journey after a messenger visits him with a commission to go to Kanavar, the ancient capital of Meoria, where he is to enter the king's service and somehow prevent the war that is about to break out in his country. There are powerful forces interested in his journey, both to fail and succeed. Join young Jecosan as he struggles along, escaping sudden traps, facing prison and captivity, fighting pain and despair, losing and making friends.