First published 2010
Mags never expected foreign spies to recognize him. The thirteen-year-old orphan arrived in Haven after a Companion chose him, ready to train as a Herald like any other. He discovered his telepathic Gift and began learning the ways of the court. Then everything changed. Secret operatives from another land somehow know him, though Mags has no memory of them. Their interest makes the king and court suspicious. Who were his parents? Why do these mysterious agents care about an orphan from nowhere? The questions multiply as the accusations grow. Mags must uncover the truth about his origins and his connection to these foreign spies. His loyalty to Valdemar comes under scrutiny. Time runs short as suspicion spreads through the palace. Can he solve the mystery of his past before the court decides he poses a threat to the kingdom?
Genres: adventure, mystery, fantasy, young-adult
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: fish-out-of-water, found-family, secret-identity
Setting: Valdemar, Haven
Period: Collegium Chronicles
328 pages · Hardcover · DAW