The Heir's Army

Book excerpt: Her first adventure began with a letter from a stranger--a second will give her an entirely new mission. Stranded far from home by injuries and the onset of winter, Charlie of Windsong finds refuge in the home of a sympathetic noblewoman to rest and wait for spring. Left homesick and disheartened by the outcome of her surreal night on the Mountain of Souls, Charlie is considering giving up her quest to return home when she receives another letter from her mysterious acquaintance, Grandmother. The letter alleges that Charlie's father, believed dead for several years, is not only still alive, but living close by in Shala. Despite considerable doubts, Charlie can't quite resist investigating, and she decides to set aside her search for the sapphire dagger to try to find her father instead. What starts as a search for one man quickly involves her in something much larger and more complex than she could have imagined. Trading solitary travel to join a band of political rebels, Charlie now finds herself at the center of a movement that will not only take her across Shala and beyond, but will also potentially change the course of history in the Eastern Lands forever. Charlie has come to enjoy the independence and self-reliance she has learned since leaving her sheltered life at Windsong to travel alone, but committing to a cause larger than herself requires putting aside her own desires for the success of the mission. As she struggles to contribute to a group that views her as an outsider, she must fight to hold onto her autonomy and determine where her loyalties lie.