Wellspring of Chaos

Kharl is the best cooper in Brysta, and his life has been as snug and regular as his barrels. But in the course of just a few days, it's all staved in. When a young blackstaffer from Recluce is mysteriously murdered in his cooperage, Kharl is summarily jailed, and then, in a shocking turnaround at the trial, his innocent consort is blamed for the killing and quickly executed. He ends up destitute and on the run, but he does take the slain woman's black staff, and the book, The Basis of Order, which explains the principles of its power. Kharl discovers that he can use the black staff to combat chaos magic, and that he needs to, because a white wizard is stalking and murdering young women, and seeking Kharl.Modesitt, L. E., Jr. is the author of 'Wellspring of Chaos', published 2005 under ISBN 9780765348081 and ISBN 076534808X.