Ellingwood — Anne Hunter

The Village of Ellingwood is near starvation. On his death-bed, Prince Tuklu, the beloved son of King Oman and future heir to the throne, shares a vision with his father, in which he is shown the womb for his re-birth. The king sends Panchen, his devoted monk-regent, to traverse the treacherous Ellingwood Ridge in search of Nina, who he believes will bear the next incarnation of the future king, Trikaya. Against the will of her husband Gethin, Nina is ordered to Ellingwood Palace, where Trikaya is seeded. When Nina delivers a girl, Gethin believes her to be his daughter and flees with Trikaya. King Oman feels deceived and fears that without an incarnate son, Tuklu?s triune lineage is lost and with it, Ellingwood is doomed. His kingdom outraged, King Oman is faced with an epic decision that will chart the sentient destiny for the girl.