Wolf's Cub

The realm of Athgar is a frail relict of the once-great High Kingdom that hatred between mage-born sorcerers and men tore asunder. For nearly a thousand years, Athgar has held to the fading remnants of glory, keeping the Covenant of Mages at bay. Under the rule of the Wolf King, Alric, Athgar has begun once more to flourish—until marauding barbarian tribes invade from the sea.

The Wolf’s youngest son Herric never wanted power. But the barbarian war threatens to consume Athgar and all the ancient glories. With one brother slain and the other imprisoned for practicing forbidden magic, Herric abandons dreams of scholarship and learns to wage war at his father’s side. But to buy allies and an army, Herric must break sacred pledges to the woman he loves for a political marriage. Knowing he earns the enmity of his beloved’s powerful family, Herric accepts the young foreigner Elaine as his bride—despite rumors she is witch-born.

Even this sacrifice proves insufficient, and in the midst of a hard and bitter war, against his father’s wishes, Herric attempts to forge a truce with the invading tribes. He makes a terrible discovery: Athgar’s ancient enemy, the Covenant of Mages, incited the tribes to war. Herric and Elaine together must face the Covenant’s Master, or lose the realm forever.