The first adventure in an epic fantasy trilogy set in the beloved world of Valdemar, from New York Times-bestselling author Mercedes Lackey! Longtime enemies must lay old griefs to rest if they’re to survive the armies of the Eastern Empire—whose monarch wields a powerful sorcery unlike any other. Karse and Valdemar have long been enemy kingdoms—their peoples filled with mutual prejudice and mistrust. Only the vile deeds perpetuated on both kingdoms by Ancar of Hardorn, and the subsequent emergence of the armies of the Eastern Empire in the wake of his defeat, have forced these two so-different lands into an uneasy alliance . . . For the Eastern Empire, which has long been isolated and shadowed in mystery, is ruled by a monarch whose magical tactics may be beyond any sorcery known to the Western kingdoms . . . Forced to combat this dire foe, not only must traditional enemies unite, but the Companions may, at last, have to reveal secrets which they have kept hidden for centuries . .. . even from their beloved Heralds. With her phenomenal Mage Winds trilogy, bestselling author Mercedes Lackey captivated fans across the country! Now in the first volume of the series’ sequel, she returns readers to the intoxicating but war-torn world of Valdemar.