New epic fantasy trilogy from the US author of THE NIGHTRUNNER series Long ago, during the dark days of the Great War with Pleinmar, King Thelatimos journeyed to the Oracle of the God Illior at Afra to save his warn-torn kingdom Here he was presented wih a prophecy 'So long as a daughter of Thelatimos's line defends and rules, Skala shall never be subjugated ожокк ' And that is how the line of queens ruling over Skala was established However, as generations went by the male heirs to the throne became intensly resentful of the prophecy that emasculated their claim to power Finally Queen Agnalain took the throne and the people of Skala suffered under her erratic and selfish command Prompted by the people's outcry over this mad queen, her son Prince Erius climed primogeniture, and seized the throne Erius's ascent may have pleased the people of Skala, but a faction of the population, one who had not forgotten the prophecy, were worried Plague, drought and famine spread throughout the kingdom weakening it's efences and offering easy pickings to Skala's old enemy and neighbour, Plenimar As people start to recall the Oracle's prophecy, Erius begins to quietly kill of his female relatives who pose the only threat to his monarchy Constantly in fear for her lif, Princess Ariani the King's sister, gave birth to twins, a boy and a girl But Ariani is married to Lord Rhius, the patron of the powerful wizard Iya, and Iya has sinister plans for the babes.  Переводчик:2002 г Мягкая обложка, 438 стр ISBN 0007113080.