Kellen is about to face his first mage duel, the trial that will prove his worth and secure his future. There is just one problem—his magic is slipping away.
Exile looms unless he can find a way to restore his power, and desperation drives him toward dangerous choices. That is when Ferius Parfax arrives. She is Argosi, a traveler who relies on wit, trickery, and a mysterious deck of cards rather than spells. She sees potential in Kellen, not for the mage he wants to be, but for something entirely different.
With powerful enemies closing in and his future crumbling, Kellen must decide what kind of hero he will become.
Magic may fail him, but cunning and courage might save his life.
