The Sword of Phoxnay - Wells, Diana K

A kingdom consumed by darkness. A young girl gifted a sword of light. Let the rebellion shine. The Dark Realm overtook the Castle of Phoxnay twelve years ago, blotting out the royal line-or so they thought. The young princess Cytherea was spirited away by a trusted courtier and his wife, hidden on a small farm while the shadow of the Dark Realm stretched ever farther. Those who escaped the destruction of Phoxnay are now known as the Loyalists, and they are waiting. Scattered across the realm, they quietly watch and protect the last of the Saint d'Agneaux line. They wait for her to be ready to wield the magic of the great Sword of Phoxnay and take on Ailmar, ruler of the Dark Realm. Now, their wait is over. Cytherea has come of age at sixteen, but she has only known her quiet life on the farm, her memories of royalty and magic gone. It'll take courage, friendship, and training to become a princess worthy of her family's sword. But as Cytherea grows stronger, so do her enemies. Young boys are stolen from their homes in the night, forced into service of the usurper's army. And Ailmar harbors a secret that just may destroy the Loyalists' brilliant plans. Can Cytherea learn to embrace her destiny before the armies clash? Phoxnay needs more than just a magical sword to defeat the darkness-they need a leader strong enough to wield it.