The Misanthrope: Stone's Story — S.M. Boyce

Before Stone trained Kara Magari or taught the First Vagabond to master the Blood loyalty, he was nothing more than a slave boy named Terric. Terric is a curious loner hellbent on reading his master's forbidden books. When one heist goes wrong, Terric abandons his old life and runs for freedom -- only to fall prey to a ruthless man named Niccoli. Niccoli is an isen -- a creature of magic from the hidden world of Ourea -- and he awakens within Terric an unimaginable gift. But this gift comes with a catch. Suddenly in control of newfound power he is forbidden to freely use, Terric realizes too late that he simply traded one master for another. In Ourea, a world dominated by the gifted, few isen dare defy their masters. Until now.