Book I of The Dark Amulet Cycle. Leighor the Healer's credentials come from a conveniently far-off southern and they might not bear too close a scrutiny. Instead of the rich pickings he'd expected, he found himself in a rural backwater, cold, wet and penniless. So when the summons from the Archbaron came, Leighor saw only a warm bed and a full belly - but he actually landed at the heart of a monstrous conspiracy to allow an evil that men thought long vanquished to return to the world. Falsely accused of murder, Leighor flees with a small band of strange companions to try and avert the election of a new High King who plans to deliver the Realms of the East into the hands of this ancient evil.