The Grand Design by John Marco
In THE JACKAL OF NAR Prince Richius forsook his command in the savage war that was tearing apart the lands of Nar and Lucel-Lor in search of the woman who had captured his heart in the briefest of moments. But he cannot escape the reach of the war as his king becomes ever more maniacal in his pursuit of victory against the wizard whose evil designs on the world have their own genesis. A genesis which casts severe doubt on the question of which side has right on its side. John Marco has created a richly imagined world full of characters with believable flaws and motivations fighting a war full of darkness shot through with the light of dangerous magic. In its plotting it compares to the best of Robert Jordan, in its depictions of characters caught up in epic conflict it bears comparison with the best of Harry Turtledove.