Bard‘s Oath

An innocent horse-breeder falls under an evil spell in the long-awaited sequel to Dragon and Phoenix: "Masterly world-building." - Publishers Weekly Dragonlords soar high above the realms of the land, possessing the ability to change from dragon to human form and communicate silently among themselves-and other abilities not known to mortals. For millennia, they have been a blessing to the world, with their great magic and awesome power. And though they live far longer than the humans they resemble when not in their draconic state, these fabled changelings are still loyal to their human friends. But now, their magic is not the only power abroad in the world. And not all the magic is as benign as theirs... Leet, a master bard of vaulting ambition, has his own magic, but of a much darker nature. Years ago, death claimed the woman he loved, setting him on a bitter course to avenge her, no matter the consequences. Mad with hatred and consumed by his thirst for revenge, Leet has set in motion a nefarious plot that ensnares Raven, a horse-breeder and a friend to the Dragonlord Linden Rathan. Using his bardic skills and dark powers, he has made Raven one of his unwitting catspaws. When accused of a heinous crime, Raven turns to Linden, and while Dragonlords normally do not meddle in human affairs, Linden is loath to abandon him in his time of desperate need. But Raven, and others victimized by Leet, are at the mercy of human justice. Can even a Dragonlord save them from a dire fate? Praise for the trilogy "Reaches new heights of dramatic adventure and political intrigue." - Booklist "Rousing fantasy adventure." - Library Journal "I enjoyed this very much indeed." -Anne McCaffrey, New York Times-bestselling author of The Dragonriders of Pern