Trapped within the haeld-sword for four hundred years, the treacherous Svaerd circumvented his prison and gained release into the world. It was a near thing, but Svaerd was reimprisoned.Having survived Svaerd's short-lived escape, Sandrik is tasked with keeping the evil sorcerer in his prison. But aerh is returning to the land, and the wily Svaerd knows better than Sandrik how to make use of the increased power. He vows revenge on Sandrik and all he loves.Will Sandrik discover a way to destroy both the sword and Svaerd before he can escape and once more imperil Sandrik's world? Deception is the second novel in the Swordsmaster series.