In the distant future, the United States is long gone...the Realm stands in its place...and one peasant woman will become the catalyst for a revolution. Leora of Mae is a young woman orphaned at birth and raised on a remote farm. As a wielder of Xanthcraft, her abilities set her apart from her adoptive family and the other villagers. Shortly before her twentieth birthday, she learns of her family's plot to sell her into servitude. Fearing for her life, she flees from the only home she's ever known. As she runs, Leora meets Roland Shallowbrook, a traveler on the Thieves' Road; Lady Aurora Verte, daughter of a powerful member of the gentry; and the White Rider Leopold, a soldier with a secret. Together, this found family will have to unite to survive. Set during the return of the Hale-Bopp comet, Gathering of the Four is the first book in the Serrulata Saga. Author A.E. Bennett combines elements from her favorite genres--fantasy, science fiction, and steamy romance--to create a unique story she hopes you'll enjoy!