Proving Ground

by Emily G. Watson

Prince Walter can't earn his knighthood without proving himself on a quest. Unfortunately for him, all seems peaceful in the kingdom of Arualia ever since the White Cougar was defeated. Aaron can’t decide whether he really wants to be a knight at all. Is there something else he wants more? But when a mysterious librarian with an alarming revelation about Aaron’s sword points Walter, his sisters, and Aaron toward the disappearance of a race of creatures called barbegazi, the children are caught up in an ancient conflict. On an unfamiliar mountainside, they find themselves at the whims and mercies of a fire-wielding witch. They must enter a desperate search to the heart of the mountain to find the secret of Aaron's sword before the witch takes the sword’s power for herself – and an entire race pays the ultimate price.

291 pages, Paperback

Published August 4, 2025

About the author

Emily G Watson developed a love of story, adventure, and exploration from a young age, living in the deserts of the United Arab Emirates in the Persian Gulf and the rainforests of Singapore in Southeast Asia before her family finally relocated to Sugar Land, Texas. Her adventures both in books and the great big world we call Earth have fueled her imagination and inspired more stories in her head than she could possibly write in one lifetime. Emily now works as a park ranger and an author.