Synopsis: The jester's curse - Four generations ago in the land of Euthymia, King Thalion - called the Wise, but known as the Fool - gave his crown to his court jester, Sagamore. The jester became Sagamore the Shrewd, who begat King Vespin the Sneaky, who begat King Valgus the Brutal, father of the young Prince Abderian who - although not the eldest of Valgus's many children - may well inherit the throne.. The only problem is, he doesn't want it. That doesn't stop him from stumbling into a web of political intrigue involving ghosts and goddesses, demons and dragons, heroes and heretics, and a powerful wizard who's been senile for over a century. Everyone wants the throne but Abderian. Yet it is he who bears the Mark of Sagamore ... and the Curse. (from the back cover of the Ace Books first edition)