Author Description

There was once a prince who wished only to be left alone: naturally, fate made him king. So begins the epic tale of Quad, the young, bookish king who is terrified of his own shadow. Raised and sheltered in a castle, living safely under the shadow of his legendary father, King Pentatutinus, he has never had to deal with anything more trying than his flowery dreams and his efforts to woo the castle scullery maids. But, now, Pentatutinus has died, leaving him the throne. The naive and unpopular king finds his kingdom of Redaemus in serious disarray: the armies are useless or rebelling; the powerful counselor, Solofaust, is planning a peasants revolution; the lords are worthless and petty. The cities are groaning under the weight of poverty, and at any time the Dark Lord Demio may come swooping through the mountainous passages at the northern border to scoop up the entire kingdom and place it under his repressive control. Even Quads own brother, the heroic warrior-prince Gregor, might be on Solofausts side! His only hope, he soon learns, is a fabled Oneprince, known only from his fathers old writings, who if found might be able to restore order to the land. On the day of his coronation, Quad finds himself dethroned in a violent revolution. He barely escapes with his life and finds himself hunted by Solofaust and the armies that once were sworn to protect him. With only a handful of soldiers from the princes old Honor Guard, a mysterious and sensuous wizardess, and his good but illogical friend and counselor (a talking rat), Quad begins his quest. Soon, he learns that his situation is worse than he at first supposed: the dark lord himself is orchestrating Solofausts rebellion; and soul-devouring spirit-things have been loosed upon the land. But Quad is hunter, as well: his courage, strength and wisdom grow as he and his little band pursue and finally find the unknown Oneprince, using Quads magical scepter, the Ruby Scion, to f