Chorus of Change — Brian C. Kershner

The great and prosperous Empire of Cadaria finds itself at a crossroads. The venerable Emperor Ender 'Justhand' Lorien has succumbed to a plague engineered by the ancient malevolence known as Dorovar and his heralds of destruction. Into the spotlight steps the fallen father's oldest son, Kaitain, whose goals are incompatible with the peaceful mandate of the dearly departed ruler. All around him, Kaitain sees enemies and impediments to his prosperous rule, and to the dominion of the eternal Cadarian Empire. The dragons of Espre are the first of his targets, quickly followed by the enigmatic and misunderstood Dark Gods. However, Kaitain is not content in venting his frustrations on the enemies he sees arrayed around him. No, it's the supposed allies that concern him the most. The Academy of Arcane Arts found themselves quickly isolated from the love of the Imperial Court, and members of the Knights of the Flashing Blade, the Emperor's elite defense force, have been charged with treason on the eve of the Emperor's wedding. But it is not just the new Emperor of Cadaria that has declared war upon the Dark Gods. The dragons of Espre also want to see the end of the Dark Gods, as they see the end of the world of Espre being dragged inexorably closer by the escalating conflicts. But in the darkness of his prison, Dorovar waits for the opportunity to be free. His hand stretches forth through his heralds, sowing devastation on the innocent citizens of Cadaria. Dorovar's aim is to sacrifice the whole of Espre to create a choir of souls large enough to sing him into the Heavens where he will unseat the Creator and remake the whole of Creation in his own warped and hate-filled image. The overture fades and The Quietus of Fate series continues in Chorus of Change.