First published 2007
Dennis Hartraft leads his battered Marauders through Midkemia's frozen northlands after nine brutal years of the Riftwar. His cold and starving soldiers reach a frontier garrison seeking shelter. A Tsurani patrol arrives at the same moment. These sworn enemies face each other across familiar battle lines until a worse threat emerges from within the stronghold. Moredhel dark elves have taken the garrison. This migrating horde kills without mercy or hesitation. Neither human force can survive alone against such vicious opponents. Hartraft must choose between maintaining his hatred for the Tsurani or joining them in an alliance that contradicts everything he believes. The two groups begin a desperate journey toward freedom. They battle the moredhel while enduring Midkemia's merciless winter. Each step forces both sides to question what matters more: preserving old hatreds or saving lives. Honor and survival clash as former enemies learn to fight as one.
Genres: historical-fiction, adventure, fantasy, action
Vibes: atmospheric, emotional, suspenseful
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, found-family
Setting: Midkemia, Frontier Garrison
Period: Riftwar
355 pages · Mass Market Paperback · Eos
Content warnings: violence