The Origin of Magic: The Smith's Apprentice - The Origin of Magic, #1

The Smith's Apprentice is a 282-page initial story in a series titled The Origin of Magic. It is an introduction to a fantasy world where the extraordinary phenomenon of magic is young, its origin cloaked in mystery, and within the framework of a vile, twisted threat that emerges from its warped abuse. With ominous powers both supernatural and political lurching beyond the horizon, a young man's naiveté is shattered by a bloody double murder, and a growing menace which threatens the peaceful lives within the town of Two-Rivers. As he and his fellow townsfolk come to grips with the disturbing event, the investigation which follows gleans information about an impending attack on the town itself by a large gang of ruthless mercenaries. To defend their home from killers whose lives are soaked in violence, the simple townsfolk must place trust in a mysterious mage they know little about, a thief whose questionable character has her residing in the town's jail, and a newcomer with a suspicious and tainted past. But even should they prove trustworthy, their help will be worthless if Stefan, the simple son of a blacksmith, fails in his task – leaving the town to run dark with blood.