Dance of Deer and Shadow

Princess Lirienne Valrayne narrowly escapes execution for witchcraft when the renegade Grayfell slays the Athanasian Church’s Champion in trial by combat.Now Grayfell himself lies in prison. The Church claims that only by employing witchcraft of his own could a half-naked barbarian with a club defeat a fully armored knight. Lirienne vows to free him. But she must battle not only her sister Marphisa, but Bishop Gilesaunce, a man whose power to influence the Dance of Light and Dark matches her own.She must also conceal her Dances while trying to hold her brother Amaury, lying on the verge of death in a distant castle, from sinking further into the Shadowlands. Darkness encircles him like flame, coming closer and closer to dragging her in every time she tries to reach him. To save him she must go to Amaury’s side. But the country between them seethes with terror as the rogue mercenary Free Companies and the Soulless ravage the land.Two shadowy figures come forward offering help. The first a notorious alchemist one step ahead of the stake. His potions do indeed increase the potency of her Dances. But they also weave their own spell, increasingly difficult to cast off.Then a wealthy Baron offers to finance a relief expedition to the castle where Prince Amaury lies wounded and besieged. The price? Lirienne’s hand in marriage.Dance of Deer and Shadow, the second volume of this epic fantasy series, plunges Lirienne Valrayne and Grayfell into a maelstrom of battle, magic, love, and betrayal. Join them in the gripping saga that will determine the fate not just of all human lives, but all human souls.Forever.