Petra

The magical heralds emerged from the mist. I hadn’t thought they’d seen me, but before I knew it, I was tasked with choosing the guide for the next merlin in exchange for the ability to read. They didn’t even ask me if I wanted this! Now, all I had to do was survive. I didn’t know magic. I didn’t know how or even if I could carry out the herald’s task. But the one thing I did know was that I wanted to make a difference in the world. I became a healer. Then the herald’s prophecy started knocking on my door and my life became even more complicated.

Welcome to Avalon, the gate to other worlds. Here, King Arthur, Merlin, and the evil enchantress Morgana Le Fey were real. They’re ancient history now, but the seeds of our government are based upon what they left behind. The wizard’s council makes sure the nobles, guilds, and clans play nice. Supporting them are the realm knights, sorcerers, and sorceresses of the realm.

I opened my mouth at the absolute wrong time and declared I was High Lady Petra Abara of Gawain. Instead of spells and bullets, this war is being fought in the streets with words. If I am elevated, two of the top three nobles in Avalon would be women. The conservative faction in Chambers would like to plant me six feet under, or failing that, drop me into a ravine. Since they can’t do either, they are trying to dig up as much dirt as they can about me, then shout it in the streets. But what is truth can wander through the gray, and some people will believe what they want.