First Truth

Alissa doesnt believe in magic. Her fathers stories about the Hold, a legendary fortress where human Keepers learn magic from the enigmatic Masters, are just thatstories. But her mother insists Alissa has inherited her fathers magical ability, so she must go to the Hold to be trained. On her way, she crosses paths with Strell, a wandering musician from the plains. Though Alissa is not sure she can trust a plainsman, Strell has something Alissa needsone of her fathers old maps. Traveling together, they can reach the Hold before the snow sets in. But they dont know that the Hold is nearly empty. The Keeper Bailic has sent the Masters on a fools errand and systematically killed the other Keepers in his search for the First Truth, a book of magic that will give him ultimate power. And he believes that Alissa and Strell hold the secret of the books hiding place.