The Imlen Brat

Stisele of Imlen knows shes in trouble but not how much. The young adopted daughter of Beltresas sovereign longs to be a weapon in her mothers service -- even against her birth family should Utroneth ask it. If only Stisele could master the temper that drives her to pepper the royal heir with petty kin-curses. But Stiseles dreams are bigger than the balance of intrigues that keeps her alive and captive in this perilous royal court. She can be more than a speaker of kin-curses. She deserves a life beyond the palace islet shes never left. Her two imaginary friends if indeed thats what they are tell her so. If Stisele is to make her own life in a world thats not ready for her she must regain the trust of wary allies. She must begin to control the power of the kin-curse -- her imaginary friends are as much hindrance as help. And she will have to give up her place in the only home shes ever known.