Searching for his long-lost father, Bransen Garibond is tricked intojourneying across the Gulf of Corona to the wild lands of Vanguard, wherehe is pressed into service in a desperate war against the brutal Samhaist,Ancient Badden. On an Alpinadoran lake, just below his magical ice castle, severalsocieties, caught in the web of their own conflicts, are oblivious toAncient Badden's devastating plans to destroy them. Bransen becomes the link between the wars, and if he fails, all who liveon the lake will perish, and all of northern Honce will fall under theshadow of the merciless and vengeful Samhaists. The Ancient is part of the Saga of the First King, a four-book seriesthat chronicles the early days of Corona, the same world as Salvatore'sbestselling DemonWars saga.