The Winds of War (The Altheria Chronicles, #1)

War is coming. Whether he chooses a side or not, Edric Holloway will burn with the rest of them. For years, Edric has lived a quiet life on his modest farm, tending his crops and trading with passing merchants. He cares nothing for the conflict between the City-State of the Remnants and the secessionist Republic of Milamanburg-until war arrives at his doorstep. Unbeknownst to him, his land sits dangerously close to contested territory, and both factions see his harvest as a resource worth taking. When soldiers march through his village, demanding fealty and supplies, Edric is left with an impossible choice: surrender his home to a war he wants no part in or risk defying those who see him as nothing more than another piece in their game. As raiders strike, old alliances crumble, and villages turn to ash, Edric is forced to flee, leaving behind everything he has ever known. Alone in a world torn apart by war, Edric must navigate the ruins of once-thriving towns, avoid the watchful eyes of both armies, and learn that neutrality is no shield against the fires of conflict. Along the way, he will meet unlikely allies. But war is relentless. No matter how far he runs, it will find him again. And when it does, Edric will have to decide: will he remain a farmer, clinging to the past? Or will he become something else-a survivor, a fighter, and perhaps, a rebel?