Forged for Destiny

In the first book of this epic chosen-one fantasy series, Raul must claim his birthright as the last surviving heir of King Balbainus and lead his conquered people to freedom... The signs are all there—his birthmark, in the shape of Balbainus' halfmoon and dagger sigil, the gemstone-hilted sword he found in his parents' inn, and the sudden influx of illegal books featuring the late king's lineage. Nevermind the fact that his sword doesn't seem very old at all, he feels much more comfortable reading than fighting, and his birthmark is looking more and more like a burn scar... As Raul leaves his simple village life to start a rebellion against the tyrannical Dunholmi government, he begins to wonder if his destiny is more someone else's plan for a future he doesn't want to be a part of. He'll go along with things, for now, if only to prove that change can come from kindness instead of outright destruction. After all, destiny is what you make of it.