No Peace in Exile — Olaf Danielson

Daniel Nielstrom, newest Defender of the Earth, is seeking relaxation after recently saving the world. As he heads to the Temple of the Defenders to spend time with his newborn daughter and his soul mate, the Volva Anna, he inadvertently stumbles on another evil plot in the Ethiopian desert. But this killer is different. He knows all about the Defenders and the Choosers their history, their purpose, and, most importantly, their identities. Daniel's temple, his fellow Defenders, and their counterparts, the Choosers, are all targeted. He has to protect those close to him, and those he has never met, from a man bent on deadly revenge. Daniel doesn't have to look far from home to figure out who is threatening his very existence and purpose. Daniel follows the clues around the world to try to stop the killer before he attacks again. He chases the assassin from the Ethiopian desert to a forgotten island in the South Atlantic, from his ancestral country of Sweden to the Four Corners of the southwest and the mystical mounds of Cahokia in the Midwest. Even while Daniel tracks down the killer, the business of the Defenders and the Choosers carries on. With the loss of one of their own, the Choosers select a new initiate to ensure their legacy. One of his first tasks as a Chooser is to mark the newest Volva, chosen to relieve the aging Marta of her duties. The new Volva has previous ties to Daniel, and news of her initiation shatters the lives of those who were close to her. Daniel continues to grow in his Defender role as he tackles this latest challenge. To truly be a Defender, he must not only judge and defend but also guide lost souls back to where they belong.