Book excerpt: The immortal Cumarun travel the Otherworld guiding mortals toward balance and the way of the First World. When the kingdom of the Deerfolk is afflicted by a mysterious shadowy Death, the Cumarun call Svarnil to the quest to save the Deerfolk... But how is Svarnil to accomplish heroic feats when she's just a young apprentice bard with no experience of warriors or magic? What other ways can there be of meeting the dangers and conflicts she faces? As her adventures among mages, monsters, and spirits unfold, she learns what it means to be a true bard. She must also discover whether the gifts she has will be enough to bring her through the challenges before her. (Book 1 of the Otherworld Series)