Esmerelda is only a fledgling wizard who has recently escaped from a dismal existence in a desolate, forsaken and lonely corner of the kingdom. In the process, she has gained the company of some new friends but with that freedom, she has also inherited several gut-wrenching challenges demanding her devotion.

First, she has been reunited with a sister whom she long thought was dead. Unfortunately, it has not been a happy reunion because her sister has turned demonic and is now imprisoned within a magical rod. She contemplates rescuing her sister from her horrible fate, but she has only rudimentary wizardly skills to work with.

In the course of her sister's imprisonment, a young, gypsy bard has been magically released from his imprisonment and claims the rod. He has a most wonderous tale to tell of shadowy intrigue involving a terrible, mystical, shape-shifting creature called a doppelganger. He also claims to have consorted with some magical, fun-loving, blue giants and of narrowly escaping a fire-breathing dragon. On top of that, he claims to have been tragically parted from his family and requests aid to help him reunite with them.

She has also met and fallen in love with a handsome romantic interest who is cursed with a hideous malady and unless he obtains skilled, healing enchantments, will be forever cursed. In order to do that, she must go to a far-off city with a most repugnant reputation and over a rough and danger filled road. Though her new-found friends join in to assist, their journey becomes fraught with perilous twists and turns.

Join with Esmerelda as she takes on the freedom of the road and a new course to pursue her long-sought hope to take charge of her own destiny.

Andy Smullin

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