Once every six hundred years, a ruling descendant of Axeris must offer up a pure breed daughter of Khione to the ancient spirits to keep the seal over the undead army of Osyron from breaking open and unleashing the wrath of the blood thirsty god upon the people of Astaroth and the other six kingdoms.
Lord Ryder’s rule falls under this year and he has his eyes set on Lyra, a pure breed descendant and princess of Dragonsbane, but there are complications when he tries to get her, she cannot remember him and he cannot offer her up if she is not in love with him. 
Time is running out, the seal is very unstable and everything seems to be working against him as he is soon caught up in a whirlwind of impossibilities and forced to make a difficult choice.
There are secrets and twists as this is a tale woven into a maze of labyrinths, with each turn unlocking a new and unpredictable play out, until he is left standing against all he had ever believed in.
 

Ryder, Lord Of Astaroth

 Ryder and Xanth sat by the small round table with Lillian in front of them, she had a large round glass ball placed in the middle of the table, supported by its stand and her hands placed on the table on either side of the glass ball. She wasn’t smiling at them this time, she had on a serious expression and so did Xanth and Ryder. 


She had mentioned Indie and that had immediately put Ryder on edge, not that he feared the witch goddess but he was wise enough to know that he needed to be weary of her. And he was. 


“She spoke to you…” Ryder mentioned again so that she could clarify. 


“She speaks to all of us.” Lillian replied and Ryder narrowed his eyes at her. “All of us here follow her, we listen to her and she speaks to us, we consult her and she reveals to us the hidden secrets. There is nothing she doesn’t know, no where she doesn’t and cannot reach.” 


The Last Straw