Collected into one volume, the first four adventures of Tarod the Nine-Fingered, with the never-before-published essay "Writing Tarod."

THE WAR LORD
Young Tarod wins a tournament and joins the court of King Damen of the wealthy, peaceful country of Minnea. But when the king and queen are killed the night of his victory celebration, Tarod must find the murderer and bring him to justice.
THE PUPPET KING
Succeeding King Damen on the throne of Minnea, Tarod must do the bidding of Selith, the sorcerer who holds a mighty secret that could condemn Tarod to death. The young king must battle the wizard and his own boredom as he tries to learn to govern a civilized nation.
THE NINE-FINGERED
Escaping Minnea with his life and weapons and little else, the wounded Tarod finds unexpected sanctuary in the home of an enemy's son. Healed and refocused, Tarod sets out to help the victims of his follies by rescuing travelers captured along the United Road. The quest takes him to the ancient city of Eun Sarns, where he must face horrors beyond his imagination.
THE DEATH MERCHANT
When he kills a poet singing a song mocking Tarod the Puppet-King, Minnea's former ruler is arrested and sentenced to hang. He meets new friends in prison who have a plan to escape, but the greater danger is the sword of Bolkar the Death Merchant, a bounty hunter who never brings anyone back alive.