Soldiers of Winter — Stephen L. Nowland

A lie discovered in the night. Friendships long-forged broken through discovery. A turning of roads—will their paths intertwine once more?Aiden is a curious intellectual, constantly at odds with his parents. He'd rather read a book than plow a field or swing a sword. Between that and his fascination with a magical interaction years ago, he's the family's odd duck.Pacian is the drunkard baker's son, his family name little more than mud. Yet, when he discovers the truth behind the death of his best friend's brothers, a dark history of violence in his past won't let him look the other way.As Pacian attempts to recover a trinket of sentimental value to Aiden, tragedy strikes and the beginning of their story unfolds. Their lives have been upended, because Pacian had to help his friend.This story is the beginning of the Aielund Saga, where these simple choices taken by a couple of country boys will lead to massive change for the world.