Dragon Bones — Patricia Briggs

PLAYING THE FOOL

Most everyone thinks Ward of Hurog is a simple-minded fool--and that's just fine by him. But few people know that his foolishness is [very convincingly] feigned. find that it's all that's saved him from death at the hands of his abusive father, who's always seen Ward as a bitter rival for power.

When his father dies, Ward becomes the new lord of Hurog... until a nobleman declares that he is too dim-witted to rule. Ward knows he cannot play the fool any longer. To regain his kingdom, he must prone himself worthy--and quickly.

Riding into a war that's heating up on the border, Ward is sure he's on the fast track to glory. But soon his mission takes a deadly serious turn. For he has seen a pile of magical dragon bones hidden deep beneath Hurog Beep. The bones can be dangerous in the wrong hands, and Ward is certain his enemies will stop at nothing to possess them...