The ripples begin to make waves Thomas Stablehand's life is not the only thing spinning out of control since he found the stone. Entire kingdoms are now in turmoil. As war clouds darken the horizon, unlikely heroes will arise. Will Prentis, newly appointed as army commander, must outmaneuver a growing array of enemies as he prepares for an unequal showdown with Arvenon's invaders. Thomas, hunted unceasingly and aided only by Brother Vangellis, must sacrifice all to safeguard the stone. The fate of kingdoms soon hinges on them and on Essanda, their new queen, who is easy to underestimate but may have surprises of her own in store. Together they must confront a ruthless invader hiding a darker purpose. The odds are hopeless. And for three kingdoms, the stakes are far higher than anyone knows. ---- The Cost of Knowing concludes the saga begun in The Stone of Knowing, book one of The Stone Cycle.