Kin of Kings

The first great war of Ovira is over, and the most hated king in centuries is dead, but his nephew still lives. However, Basen had nothing to do with the destructive war his uncle started. In fact it was his uncle who exiled him and his father to the territory of their enemies, where Basen's dreams of becoming a legendary mage now fade, as he must work all day just to eat. His only chance at regaining some semblance of the life he thought he would lead is to join an elite school that trains, houses, and feeds a thousand new young men and women each year.

Basen's unique skill with energy leaves him hunted by a psychic of legendary power. But that becomes the least of his troubles when an enemy army of unknown numbers, loyal to a murderous pretender to the throne, surrounds the Academy where Basen has honed his talents. As he begins uncovering the truth about his enemies, it does little more than show him how powerful they really are.

For many young mages like Basen, the Academy is more than just a place to learn the art of manipulating energy. It has become the only sanctuary in this unbalanced war, a symbol of resistance. But the Academy can't stand up to Tauwin's army much longer. As Basen and a group of allies take on the task of recruiting troops from other territories, he soon comes to find that no one is stupid enough to fight...no one except a fearsome horde of creatures more powerful and violent than they are smart.

A midnight attack to the Academy leaves a wall in rubble and deepens the cracks in the already unstable alliances within the school. But for Basen, there are more important matters than the grabs for political power going on around him. His mother's still rotting away in prison, and his father might kill Basen's cousin for putting her there. On top of that, Basen's recent promise to a powerful psychic allows him only a few days before he must return to Merejic for a task that remains a mystery.