"Kellen Argos is an outlaw spellslinger with a bad reputation, a long list of enemies, and zero luck. When he accidentally smears blood on the Daroman flag, he's dragged before the queen to be executed for his act of treason. Face-to-face with the young monarch, Kellen is offered a chance to save himself. If he can defeat the queen at a game of cards, he'll walk free... if not, his life is forfeit. But what begins as a game reveals a conspiracy against...

Once an outlaw spellslinger, Kellen Argos has made a life for himself as the Daroman Queen's protector. A little magic and a handful of tricks are all it takes to deal with the constant threats to her reign. But when rumors of an empire-shattering war begin to stir, Kellen is asked to commit an unimaginable act to protect his queen. Inside enemy territory, he quickly realizes something is amiss. Someone is playing a dangerous game. And to discover...

"Kellen's life as an outlaw spellsliger is about to get a lot worse. In Gitabria, a miraculous discovery draws spies from all over the continent willing to kill to get their hands on it. Swept up in the race for power, Kellen is forced to join the pursuit. But the invention holds a dark secret--one that could spark a war."--