Circle of Dreams #1

Runeweaver

Twelve year-old Zaine lives with his Aunt and Uncle on a farm, although it’s
clear to him that he is not related to his “family” because they don’t look
anything alike. Zaine’s Aunt Tilly is particularly cruel and works him
tirelessly so that he can repay the jar of silver she feels he owes her for his
upkeep (although funnily enough the jar never gets any fuller!). Zaine’s only
pleasure is going to visit Davyn, an old herbmaster who lives in a cottage
nearby.

Zaine aspires to be a herbmaster when he grows up, but there is
another, more important reason why he is drawn to the old man’s
cottage. There is a strange book there that Zaine can’t seem to leave alone.
At first he couldn’t even open it but in the last five years he has worked his
way to page 100 – even though he has no idea of the meanings behind the
strange patterns and designs contained within it.

Zaine’s life changes dramatically when a man named Calard discovers his
ability and buys Zaine from his aunt. Calard plans to train Zaine as a
runeweaver and use him to help Prince Theodane win the crown to the
kingdom. Davyn rescues Zaine from Calard and takes him to the castle
himself. Here Zaine learns about his mysterious past. Davyn is actually
Zaine’s father and Trianna, the King’s personal runeweaver is his mother.
 

Zaine was sent away as a child in an attempt to stop him learning the runes
and hopefully stop the terrible prophecy given about Zaine when he was
born from coming true. But Zaine has already learnt the runes, and his
mother, fearful of what will happen to the kingdom should her son be
allowed to become a runeweaver, banishes him to the Circle of Dreams.
 

Zaine is resigned to his fate but is determined to help Princess Maata gain
the crown before he goes. Zaine soon becomes involved in a contest that
could cost him his life and ends in an outcome that no one could have
predicted…