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"Things were starting to look up for Magelord Minalan the Spellmonger -- the magic mountains in his domain not only made him a wealthy man and the most powerful mage in history, it also produced a lode of magical gemstones with unique properties -- properties the Alka Alon, the masters of magic on Callidore, are fascinated by. When Minalan gets his chance to trade some of his magic rocks for irionite, he finds himself in a position to raise hundreds more magi with the stones... making them High Magi. But as valuable as that bargain is for prosecuting the war with the Dead God and his sinister armies, such power comes with a hefty price. Every new High Mage Minalan raises presents potential new problems. The Magelords have inspired fear in their neighbors. The warmagi invent deadly new spells. The lower orders of magi are getting restless. The mage-led Sevendor Town wants a new charter. King Rard and the royal court are pressuring the nascent Arcane Orders politically. Some magi are crossing the Penumbra and taking stones from the goblins, as well as taking their service. And some are starting to get a little crazy. It makes a nice, normal little raid on his lands seem refreshing in its simplicity." -- Back cover.