The Time of Troubles I (Time of Troubles, #1-2)

The uneasy peace between the Empire of Videssos and the nation of Makuran was crumbling. War came, and the King of Makuran lay dead on the field of battle. Worse, a power-mad minister had seized the throne and the rightful heir had disappeared. Abivard, son of a Makuran lord who also had fallen in the same battle, realized that his only hope of saving his family and his land was to find the missing heir, though that would mean he would be branded traitor and become the target of every armed man who served the usurper-and of his nation's most powerful sorcerers.Note: The Time of Troubles I was originally published separately as The Stolen Throne and Hammer and Anvil. The stolen throne: The fragile peace between the Empire of Videssos and the nation of Makuran had shattered. War came, and the King of Makuran lay dead on the field of battle. Worse, a power-mad minister had seized the throne and the rightful heir had disappeared. Abivard, son of a Makuran lord who also had fallen in the same battle, realized that his only hope of saving his family and his land was to find the missing heir, though that would mean he would be branded traitor and become the target of every armed man who served the usurper - and of his nation’s most powerful sorcerers. Abrivard’s only hope lay in the form of a perplexing prophecy of a field, a hill, and a shield shining across the sea. If the prophecy was true, it might lead him to the rightful ruler of Makuran - but first, he would have to survive long enough to solve its riddle Abrivard, marshal of Makuran, has been given an impossible task by his King to destroy the Empire of Videssos. Even as he thought how to obey, Videssos's legions are on the march and attack Makuran. Abrivard finds himself fighting a defensive war. Even as he struck back, he realized that force of arms alone would not carry the day.