Baron of the Wild

Rugan of Westmark is forced to take up the life of a wandering mercenary after his barony falls to a conquering empire. When he runs afoul of brigands in the lawless borderland, Rugan narrowly escapes with his former servant, the roguish pickpocket Kaliver. Relentlessly hunted by the vengeful brigands, Rugan decides to seek refuge in the one place he knows they won’t follow: Tark, a reclusive hermit kingdom ruled by a mysterious Witch-Queen. Rugan and Kaliver soon find themselves caught up in a secret plot to depose the Witch-Queen, Rulana, and supplant her with a secret heir to the throne. But Rulana's spies abound, and many servants remain enslaved to her will. At the royal castle at Galadowen, she is protected by the Elk-riders, a small but elite cavalry, and worse: the Sala-kur, supernatural warriors created from enchanted trees. With Rugan as its Marshal, the revolt must overcome wild beasts, savage warriors, a goblin horde, a series of betrayals, and the ancient magic of the Witch-Queen herself.