The Reds — J. Lawrence Davis

Cloaks, the masters of magic, distinguished by the colors of their cloaks. The Reds, who draw through emotions; the Illusionists, who draw through knowledge; the Directs, who draw straight from magic; the Thasos, who draw through plants and animals; the Healers, who draw through human beings; and the Royals, who rule the kingdoms of Mantau. All cloaks, divided by their philosophies, must work together as a new threat emerges.

Kylis Lawson aided his kingdom of Rhinia in repelling a small invasion force from Fuerza, much to the appreciation of his king, King James Rhine. Now, while King James prepares for an all-out war with Fuerza, he must make amends with his allies whom he alienated before the truth of an assassination attempt on the Fuerzan king could be discovered. As the hero of the Battle of Sherila, Kylis leads two cloaks and his best friend into the neighboring kingdom of Tergoha to make peace with the Red Cloaks Council, the leaders of all Reds in Mantau, and King Xaver, the monarch of the kingdom.

But the trip isn't at all easy as Kylis prepares for his first true diplomatic mission. He must also avoid an invading Fuerzan army, which has been attacking all of the residents of Tergoha for about two years. Kylis soon discovers more about war than his history lessons could ever teach him, and he learns more about cloaks and their conflicts with each other.

And lurking where Kylis and his new team least expect it are hidden dangers, whose existence brings the likelihood of Kylis's mission's success into question.