Prologue: The Beginning
    Somehow, with him, she felt very safe. It was strange for her to feel that way, after knowing him only a few minutes. But that afternoon, those few minutes felt like forever.

PART ONE: RUNAWAY
Chapter One: In His Memory
    Dying, it seemed, was a rather slow process. At least, that's what he thought at the time.
Chapter Two: The Falcon and the Hounds
    She had to stop herself from gasping at the sudden jolt of his touch, as if his skin had been seething with lightning.
Chapter Three: The Road to Zarral
    She couldn't understand why, when he looked at her, she felt both safe and afraid at the same time.
Chapter Four: An Introduction to Magic
    Xandra, Royal Princess of Zarral, the king's younger sister, stood somewhat uncertainly in the middle of the road, surrounded by six sleeping Malcor slave drivers and four very odd strangers.
Chapter Five: The Ties that Bind
    His fingers were strong, his skin warm. But the metal on his palm was cold, and when she touched the black stone set in the back of the gauntlet, a shiver crawled down her spine.
Chapter Six: Lessons
    He had seen eyes like them once before. The Queen's eyes burned with the same fire. They shone with the same power.
Chapter Seven: Magic and Machines
    But appearances were deceiving. She should know. Her clan had created the original weapon. However, she could tell that these were slightly different. They didn't have the oily shimmer of machines. Instead, they crackled with magic.

                                                              INDEX