In the third installment of Smellie’s (Ambushed, 2014, etc.) fantasy series, a warrior clan must decide if a call for peace among four battling groups is actually part of a nefarious scheme.Clan Dekam resides in the Jatego, the largest “high rocks” (or mountains) in the Icka Domain.The Dekams are primarily warriors and, unlike the other clans, don’t use their magiclike Dunamis Power in combat. They’ve also isolated themselves for many years, ever since the Great Battle, which involved all the clans. So when a masked stranger approaches the Jatego to deliver a message for Garn, the Dekams’ High-One (or leader), the clan is wary. The message is from Lord Matoca.Matoca’s message asks for a truce among the clans and invites the Dekams’ High-Council of Twelve to his castle for further discussions. Council member Snar tries to rally the Dekams into supporting the truce. But fellow member Diyah suspects that Snar, along with Matoca, may actually have a sinister agenda in mind.A series entry that advances the ongoing story at a leisurely pace, but the striking characters are a plus. – Kirkus —