THE IMLEN BRAT

Stisele of Imlen knows she',s in trouble, but not how much. The young adopted daughter of Beltresa',s sovereign longs to be a weapon in her mother',s service &mdash, 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 Stisele',s 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 she',s never left. Her two imaginary friends, if indeed that',s what they are, tell her so.  , If Stisele is to make her own life in a world that',s not ready for her, she must regain the trust of wary allies. She must begin to control the power of the kin-curse &mdash, her imaginary friends are as much hindrance as help. And she will have to give up her place in the only home she',s ever known._,