**The dazzling story of a boy who rises from poverty and hardship to become the greatest leader his world has ever known ** KRISPOS RISING Born a ragged peasant, Krispos lives on the family farm until crushing taxes drove him from the land he calls home. With only a single gold piece to his name-a gift from a nomad chieftain who claimed it carried magic-Krispos heads for the imperial capital, Videssos, and into a world of peril and possibility. KRISPOS OF VIDESSOS Krispos' reign as emperor of Videssos shows every sign of being brief and very bloody-for trouble is brewing. Civil war has erupted, and as