A Sea of Shields (Book #10 in the Sorcerer's Ring)

In A Sea of Shields, Gwendolyn gives birth to her and Thorgrin's child, amidst powerful omens. With a son born to them, Gwendolyn and Thorgrin's lives are changed forever, as is the destiny of the Ring. Thor is tasked with rebuilding the Legion. He deepens his training with Argon, and he is given an honor greater than he ever dreamed of when he is inducted into the Silver and becomes a Knight. Before departing the Ring to find his mother, Thor prepares first for his wedding with Gwendolyn. But events coincide which might just get in the way. Gwendolyn is reeling from the birth of her son, the imminent departure of her husband, and the death of her mother. The Ring gathers for the royal funeral, which brings together the estranged sisters, Luanda and Gwendolyn, in one final confrontation that will have dire implications. Argon's prophecies ring in her head, and Gwendolyn feels a looming danger to the Ring, and furthers her plans to rescue all of her people from catastrophe. Erec receives news of his father's illness, and is summoned back home, to the Southern Isles; Alistair joins him on the journey, as their wedding plans are put in motion. Kendrick seeks out his long-lost mother, and is shocked at who he finds. Conven returns to his hometown to find things are not what he expects, and he falls deeper into mourning. Steffen unexpectedly finds love, while Sandara surprises Kendrick by wanting to leave the Ring for her homeland in the Empire. Reece, despite himself, falls in love with his cousin, and when Tirus' sons find out, they set in motion a great treachery. A tragedy of misunderstanding ensues, and a war threatens to erupt in the Ring and the Upper Isles due to Reece's inflamed passions. The McCloud side of the Highlands are equally unstable, with a civil war on the verge of breaking out. Romulus, in the Empire, discovers a new form of magic which may just destroy the Shield for good. He forges a deal with the dark side and, emboldened with a power that not even Argon can stop, Romulus initiates a sure way to destroy the Ring. With its sophisticated world-building and characterization, A Sea of Shields is an epic tale of friends and lovers, of rivals and suitors, of knights and dragons, of intrigues and political machinations, of coming of age, of broken hearts, of deception, ambition, and betrayal. It is a tale of honor and courage, of fate and destiny, of sorcery. It is a fantasy that brings us into a world we will never forget, and which will appeal to all ages and genders.