To Bear an Oath

About the book

‘Do you, Edith Reilly, swear upon your life, the lives of those living, and the souls of those who came before, that you shall, up to and including at the cost of your own life, protect the nation of Tardide and all those who call it home?’ ‘I do’ Edith Reilly has followed in her father's footsteps, swearing an oath to defend and serve her home, the nation of Tardide, and all the sectors that compose it. An ideal time to do so, given that Tardide has been at peace for twenty years.  Edith is assigned to Bellwraith, a sector on the opposite side of the continent to her home sector of Millvale. Here, she is more intimately exposed to Enchantment, the military's highly regulated form of magic. Enchantment has always been highly controversial, as it was only invented to counteract Casters, the opposing force in the war. Casters are innately magical, whereas Enchantment is a learned skill. As time has passed, more and more people have begun to worry that Enchanters will rebel the same way Casters did. Some think they are one and the same. Edith struggles with the alienation that comes with choosing between a mundane, forgettable career and pursuing enchantment. The more Edith pushes and is pushed by those around her, the more gaps in the history she has been taught appear. What happens when you are forced to choose between what you have always known, and what is right? What happens when you push too hard, and it all comes crumbling down?