Book excerpt: Vale Darrow likes routine. He likes knowing what will happen on each of his days, and isn’t fond of surprises or upheaval of any kind. He lives alone in a house he loves. He expects to always be alone because he isn’t an easy person to know. He never expects that to change, until it does. After serving for many years the Companion to the Oracle dies. The Oracle reaches out, in his grief, touching on an unsuspecting Vale. With that touch, everything changes. Vale swears he will not give in to the Oracle if chosen as Companion. Will the Oracle force him to accept a life cut off from everything and everyone he loves? Or will Vale choose death rather than submit to the Oracle’s whims? Please see inside for warnings!