The Darkness Before the Dawn (Dark Sun World / Chronicles of Athas, Book 2)

Jedra lives in the streets, Kayan in the temple. When misfortune throws them together, they discover psionic power greater than almost any other on Athas, a power potent enough to destroy whole cities. When the force proves too strong for them to control, they search for a mentor to help them harness their wild talent and use it for the good of their ravaged world. The harsh environment conspires against them at every step, but so do their divergent backgrounds. Can a bond forged by necessity survive the cruelty of Athasian society, the savagery of the gladiatorial arena, or the simple test of time? Companions half-elf Jedra and ex-templar Kayan search for a mentor that will help them to develop their psionic powers, and are forced to compete against one another in a fight to the death for the gladiatorial games. Original. 75,000 first printing.