The Pretender (The Chaos Gate Trilogy, Book 2)

the long version

HE GODS STAND POISED FOR WAR AS THE CHAOS GATE TRILOGY CONTINUES Ygorla, demon offspring of Chaos, has at last come of age. Her awesome sorcery has murdered the ruling High Margrave, ravaged his hapless court, and chained in slavery the footloose troubadour Strann. With the soul-stone of a Lord of Chaos now in her possession, and protected by her ravenous army of ghoulish warriors, Yglora plans to use her appalling powers for world domination. Only the mystical brotherhood known as the Circle dares stand in her way - a Circle serving the Lords of Order, ancient enemies of Chaos. As Tirand, the Circle's High Initiate, plots Yglora's defeat, the Chaos Lords forge an alliance with the resourceful Strann - who has come to realise that Yglora's destructive fury will be nothing compared to the final, shattering confrontation between the dual might of Chaos and Order.