Carving the future from the past An unknown enemy attempts to murder the royal line of Pozzelby with a sorcerous attack during the king's annual hunt. Shadow asps overrun the camp and murder the king, his brother, and his two nephews. But the king's youngest nephew isn't on the trip. Thirteen-year-old Dexter is more interested in books than hunting and survives. His family gone, Dexter has no time to mourn. He's whisked away...