Liar’s Oath

In this thrilling prequel to The Deed of Paksennarion and sequel to Surrender None, Elizabeth Moon continues an awe-inspiring saga of good and evil.

Born a peasant, trained as a soldier, now a warrior-general, the one-man juggernaut known throughout the land as Gird has brought the oppressed people not simply up off their knees, but to arms against the cruel, magic-wielding mageborn overlords. And helping Gird is his right-hand man Luap, who turns out to be a bastard son of a former king, for a time brought up in wealth but later spurned because he has no mage powers.

Luap struggles to prove himself worthy to Gird and his peasant army while still wishing to have his birthright acknowledged. He serves Gird faithfully, admires him, but Gird gives him no command responsibility, and Luap believes he is capable of being a good leader. When the chance comes to lead the remaining magelords far away, to a safe haven where the magelords cannot harm Gird’s people or be harmed by them, he takes it, believing that now he can show his talents. He is, after all, the son of a king. He must be born to rule.

So he thinks. But an ancient enemy lurks in the stone, well able to use his pride and determination against him and his followers.