The Last Key

Book excerpt: Andea is a land where humans have learned to harness the life essence in all living beings to magically shape the world around them. It is a place where warrior-priests called dahkshari keep order by serving as judge, jury, and executioner. And where common Andeans called heretics strike out into the monster-haunted frontier to escape the dogmas of Andea’s cleric lords. Raven Byrne is a novice dahkshari hunting heretic criminals when he discovers that an Andean war hero wants to use an ancient magic called the Reaping Key to avenge the deaths of his family during Andea's recent war with Loquath. The souls of every Loquathi man, woman, and child are at stake. Raven finds an unlikely ally in a young Andean noblewoman, Seala Mesalek. Together, they embark on a journey across Andea's dangerous frontier to stop a genocide. Can Raven put aside his prejudice against heretics and his doubts in himself to become the honorable dahkshari Andea needs?