Two Kingdoms

In a land rife with injustice, plague and peril, war rages between two medieval kingdoms. A cryptic map delivered in a wooden box unlocked with a mysterious key holds a secret that eventually launches three teens on separate journeys, exploring a kingdom where all is not as it seems, intertwining their lives in ways they can't imagine. Hugh, a young blacksmith, struggles to lead a clandestine group after his father, its founder, is abducted by enemies. News of his father's fate propels him on a course of vengeance he is unable to control. Marie, the daughter of a knight, is convinced her family has abandoned her when she is sent away to a distant castle to be prepared for a future she rebels against. Upon her return, she is menaced by a danger she never contemplated and must chart her course through it. Stephen, a squire to the legendary Sir Bart, yearns to become a knight, but struggles with self-doubt and wavering courage as he attempts to master the requirements of knighthood and the anxiety of combat. Each teen's loyalty to a king they have never met is put to the test, and they must overcome personal challenges before they are able to complete their journeys. Through a series of unexpected events their lives converge as they are given by their king a quest in which they must trust each other while evil forces threaten to tear them apart. Along the way each faces a moment of truth where their decision could mean life or death. Two Kingdoms is an epic tale of adventure, love, and loss that wrestles with themes of doubt and faith, trust and courage, and love and forgiveness. This allegorical coming of age story draws the reader into the nuanced inner world of youths attempting to understand who they are, how they fit into the world around them, and what is their ultimate purpose.