Sword in the stars / Wayne Thomas Batson.

Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

Centuries have passed since the Silence, and the few remaining faithful cling to the ancient prophecies of the First One.nbsp; They wait for the Caller and watch the skies for the Sword in the Stars, even as the world they've alwaysnbsp; known unravels aroundnbsp; them.

nbsp;Murderous Gorracks have secretly penetrated the kingdom's borders. Their attacks grow more brazen...more horrific, threatening to touch off a war on a scalenbsp; that hasn't been seen in seven ages.

nbsp;nbsp; Innbsp; the capital city of Anglinore, noble King Aravel pondersnbsp; the advice ofnbsp; this twin brother Morlan:nbsp; declare all out war on the Gorrack nation.nbsp; While Anglinore's High Shepherd, the wise Sebastian Grenlaff urges caution and listens to troubling voices on the wind.

nbsp;nbsp; Queen Mariel, due to deliver a child any day, suspects the unthinkable about her husband's brother Morlan.nbsp; She sets off alone to Morlan's castle in Dunharrow, hoping against hope that she can keep old wounds from erupting in war.

nbsp;nbsp;nbsp; Alastair Coldharrow,nbsp; tortured by an addiction to the outlawed Witchdrale and haunted by a violent past, wagers his life on the hope that the foretold Halfainin, the Pathwalker, would come.nbsp; When atnbsp; last, the Sword appears in the Stars, Alastair begins a fruitless search for the Halfainin that leaves him disillusioned, broken, and lost.nbsp; Used to caring only for himself, Alastair will enter a maelstrom of conflict as loyalties are tested, dark schemes are hatched, andnbsp; the many realms of Myriad bracenbsp; themselves for war.

nbsp;nbsp; Will Alastair realize what he has before its too late...for everyone?