A Drum Is Empty

Radovin, a young apprentice shaman, is screwed. Bound by an oath sworn on his life when he began his apprenticeship, he faces certain death if he betrays his master. He's in no hurry to die, but he cannot serve a murderer. When his closest friend dies in a contrived "accident", Radovin heeds a warning dream and runs away. His last hope is to reveal the truth to someone who can act on it, to give his wasted life some meaning before avenging spirits shred him.

His reappearance at a large gathering, some moons later, kicks the soup-pot of tribal politics into the fire. Justice seems to fall from the skies as Radovin's former master is struck down by a bolt of lightning and his cronies are discredited. The fatal oath turns out to have been a sham; Radovin is not doomed. He begins a new life with rediscovered family and a mentor who truly cares about him.

Of course it's all too good to be true. The dung hits the foehn for real when Radovin stumbles upon his late master's dark secret: an ancient amulet that devours souls and steals power. Its magical binding has become unstable; a wildfire of evil forces could destroy everything Radovin loves. Time is short--even shorter for Radovin's new mentor, kidnapped by henchmen of a madwoman under the influence of the amulet.