Knight of the Wood by Allen Ballantine
The Kingdom of Aiveroquia and the Katan Empire have been at odds for years. Armies from both nations, led by their elite knights have battled for supremacy of Irica, mages from Aiveroquia cancelling out the cannons of the empire. To the north is the frontier, known as the Wilderlands, over the years the Wilderlands have become safer from attacks from orcs and goblins from the mountains thanks to the Rangers and more towns and settlements are developing as people from both countries move there looking for opportunity.
Avery Shaw, the young Captain of the Rangers has developed a reputation, first as an artifact hunter and more recently as the man who defeated the Empire in its invasion of the Wilderlands to purge the frontier of its heretics and heathens. Now stories about him abound from him being a demon with swords for hands to a dashing Captain who can defeat any man and seduce any woman. Avery isn’t fond of either one.
Eva Micheroux is a young noblewoman from Brochester, a city in northwest Aiveroquia and has heard of the stories about the ranger Captain. Eva, a half elf raised by her uncle has developed into a powerful sorceress, one her uncle would like to marry off to a higher noble family to increase his influence. When Prince Lucas, a distant cousin of the King recruits her to help with his plan for a sneak attack on Mastin, a town on the Empire’s northern border with the Wilderlands, she will have a chance to see which, if any of the stories are true.
