"For as long as she can remember, Maura Woodbury has been a ward of the wizard Langbard, sheltered by his quiet power from the worst of her country's long occupation by the Han. She knows the legend of THE WAITING KING, who is said to lie asleep in the mountains until his destined queen awakens him and together they will win their country's freedom. But it is only a legend. An impossible tale people pretend to believe because they have no real hope. But she is the princess-enchantress whose destiny is to find and wake THE WAITING KING. At the conclusion of THE WIZARD'S WARD, Maura had found the crown of the Waiting King and realized Rath, her companion and a notorious outlaw, was the one prophesized to claim it. But though Rath was to be king, he was just a man, with no superpowers or abilities that would chase the Han from their kingdom. Stricken by doubt so soon after achieving their goals, Maura and Rath debate their choices: should they fulfill their destiny as king and queen by overthrowing the Han or strive for a quiet peaceful life? Unsure of their decision, they move toward their goal, hoping the way will become clearer. An encounter with a child oracle and Idrygon of the Council gives Rath and Maura hope that they will liberate Umbria. After their marriage and coronation the two are separated, as Maura must work with Delyon to recover a magical staff. Rath's jealousy and fears are ignited as his wife leaves on a dangerous mission with a man he feels far worthier of her. On her journey, Maura discovers her father may have been a Han death-mage, and this knowledge, which she keeps secret from Rath, becomes a tool the ambitious general Idrygon uses against her. Idrygon blackmails Maura into following his way of war by threatening to tell Rath of her parentage. But when she finally tells Rath--rather than have the blood of his countrymen on her hands--he is relieved because of a prophecy he'd heard from the Oracle, that his heir would have Han blood. At the final battle, Maura discovers the whereabouts of the magical staff that will help Rath rule. But Idrygon isn't done with his menace. He tells Rath to use the staff's power--one wish, however great--to destroy the Han completely and then become king in name only while Idrygon rules. If Rath doesn't agree, Idrygon will spread the word of Rath's outlaw past, and Rath will always have to fight for power over his people. Maura doesn't believe he should destroy the Han, partially because her father was Han, but she leaves the decision to Rath. In the end, Rath wishes that the Giver's will be done, and the Han are defeated. Information about character's clothing/appearance: When Maura confronts the deathmage she wears a cream linen undergown, green wool tunic, leather sash with many pockets. The death mage looks like: black robed and hooded with thin hands, holding slender metal wands with small gems imbedded in the tips. When Maura is crowned by the oracle she wears a yellow gown ""the color of midsummer sunshine"" and the hero wears robes ""that seemed to have been woven from threads of the deep blue Vestan sky"" When Maura is on the ship she wears a cream linen undergown, green wool tunic, leather sash with many pockets and the hero wears black leather vest, light shirt, dark breeches and boots."