Book one of the Elderbrook series. This story has established it's own way of medieval lifestyle adding a fantasy touch and some newer class ranks and laws. Elderbrook is a kingdom in the mountain filled wilds, ruled by a single queen and king who try to keep things lively and light hearted, but unfortunately it is only a mask to the people living within the city walls of the kingdom. There is a darkness which lingers outside their doorstep and awaits to overthrow the balance that has been established. The story follows along with a young Outlander, not of the city, Charles Exton. He notices some spots of 'darkness' appearing in the woods he resides in, finding it odd but doesn't think enough of it. He continues his lifestyle and runs in to Eve Allander, a young lady of the commonfolk class who is practicing small magic, mainly useful for potions and such. These two have quite the chemistry and more will be explained about this little world in the first few introductory chapters.