Foundation (Lackey novel)

The book details a change in the training of Heralds from essentially an apprenticeship such as experienced by Tylendel and Vanyel, to a school based system such as the one in Arrows of The Queen and Brightly Burning.

Their freedom comes on the heels of the arrest of Cole Pieters, and Mags is flung into the fray of Haven as a Heraldic Trainee, with no notion of life outside of abject slavery.

His heavy accent and "stupidity" about such normal things leads to the King's Own taking him under his wing as a spy protégé, but Mags lives in perpetual fear of the bad old days.

This switch is due to a sudden surge in the numbers of people Chosen, and the accompanying tremendous burdening of the Heraldic, Bardic, and Healer Collegium resources.

All while this is happening, Mags is trained by the Kings Own in the art of spying, and is assigned to keep an eye on two 'dignitaries' and their retinue of bodyguards and underlings who are visiting and causing trouble.