The last in the trilogy of Forgotten Realms novels from Thomas M. Reid. This is the concluding novel in a trilogy exploring the political intrigue of a mercenary society in the Forgotten Realms world. Author Thomas M. Reid has written the entire trilogy, which takes place in an area of the world little before explored in novels. AUTHOR BIO: THOMAS M. REID held numerous positions with TSR and Wizards of the Coast, Inc., including brand manager for the D&D® brand and creative director for Star Wars® RPGs. Besides the Scions of Arrabar trilogy, his most recent novel is Insurrection, the second book in the New York Times best-selling R.A. Salvatore’s War of the Spider Queen series. From the Paperback edition.

Something bad happened to Matinicus "Matt" Hawkins in Afghanistan. The ex-SEAL was grievously wounded in an ambush that killed men under his command and almost ended his life. When he pushed for an investigation, he was kicked out of the Navy with a psychiatric discharge. The doctors put his shattered leg back together, but the bitterness destroyed his marriage. Five years later, Hawkins is jerked out of his tranquil life as a designer of undersea robots. A super-secret government group wants him to go back to Afghanistan on a strange and dangerous mission. A Georgetown University historian has unearthed evidence that could lead to the fabulous treasure of Prester John, a legendary Christian ruler of an eastern empire. The historian has disappeared, and the government wants Hawkins to track down the treasure as a matter of national security. The centerpiece of the trove, an emerald-encrusted gold scepter, is the linchpin in the Prophet's Necklace, code-name for a plot that is intended to kill more people than the attack on the Twin Towers and rally others to the terrorist cause. Hawkins sees his mission to foil the plot as an opportunity to search for answers. He pulls together an eclectic team that includes his ex-wife, a former comrade-in-arms and a mentally unstable computer whiz. Backed by his unlikely team, Hawkins will travel thousands of miles and hundreds of years on an amazing time-space odyssey. He'll face off against a cold-blooded killer. Probe the underwater secrets of an ancient tomb. Navigate the treacherous stands of an unimaginable conspiracy. And in the process, will discover that there are treasures even more valuable than gold.

Jason, Tom and Ricky are on their annual summer vacation to the Florida Keys fishing and diving with their girlfriends. The diving is great as usual, but the ocean bottom has somehow been changed by last years hurricane. When Jason discovers a gold cross with a Spanish inscription in front of an underwater cave, a dangerous current almost pulls him in. Deep within the mysterious cave lies more than treasure. It holds a mystical power that helped form ancient civilizations. A struggle ensues to retrieve and to understand the mysteries the rest of the treasure holds. Conflicts ensue that will test their friendships and relationships. Some will come to understand the mysteries, while others will let their greed and lust drive them to suffer an agonizingly horrible death.

Deep in his secret underground chambers, the dark wizard Cyrus Mandalin studies his most beloved and prized treasure, the ancient tome known as The Simvac. Centuries old, this book of dark magic has been the cause of violent bloodshed and world wars, ever since its creation by the ancient druid order from the dawn of time. It had taken Cyrus years to learn how to translate the forgotten language in which The Simvac had been written, but now that he has finally found a way, the magic he would soon possess would make him the most powerful man alive. In Minion City, the young sorcerer Mordain has been summoned to a secret meeting, by none other than King Henrey the Third himself. This meeting would bring together a team, consisting of the most powerful mages and experienced fighters that the world has ever seen. Once united, they learn they have been called together by these ancient sentient beings known as the Grand Mystics of Ire. The strange thing is that no one seems to know anything about these Grand Mystics, only that they are asking Mordain and the others to come to their aid. Whispers of war, high treason against the monarchs of the land, give birth to violent conflicts and deadly confrontations. Entire races of creatures have been transformed into undead, vicious monsters, bent on killing and destroying everything in their path. It seems that no matter where one turns, dark magic is taking control, and no one seems to know exactly who can be trusted. Mordain and his companions find themselves forced on a path that will change their lives forever. If they do not act quickly, it may be too late. Too late not only to save themselves, but to save the entire world from the dark magic that threatens to destroy them all.

Morgan discusses the origin of the emerald, its peculiar structure, and its strange allure. The story weaves across several continents and thousands of years. It is a tale of conquistadors, treachery, shipwrecks, and alchemy. Along the way, we meet scientists and kings and bear witness as the great emeralds are born, mined, smuggled, cut, and sold. The book also discusses the modern art of making synthetic emeralds. From the fastnesses of Afghanistan to the steamy jungles of Colombia and Zimbabwe, from the sands of Egypt to the bitter Urals, this is the story of a stone whose strange journey reflects the yearnings, greed, passions, and longing for beauty of the human race.

Centuries ago, a young imprisoned scribe accepted a quest to alter the final millennium. Amidst a land of giant reptiles an unconventional creature appeared to teach the scribe to overcome. These scrolls reveal that paradigm for conquering.

A LEGENDARY PEARL in an ocean cove lures the young scribe, Archippus, to risk life and limb against a great white fish that protects the treasure. In a desperate attempt to possess its wealth, the young scribes world is forever altered, and he finds himself called to a foreboding conflict atop the Scrimshaw Tower.