Stone of Tymora: Book One- The Stowaway by R.A. and Geno Salvatore

Maimun never knew his real parents, since he was discovered in a great catastrophe that left everyone around him dead. Rescued by a passing man, he was delivered to a powerful druidess who saved him and raised him as if he was her own son. But on his sixth birthday, she is attacked by what looks like an elf. But is it really? When the elf starts to burn down her own forest around her, she takes him and runs to a safe place, then goes back to face the elf... and never returns.

Maimun, who up until this point has had no name, is named by the bard who finds him. The Bard is Perrault, and he reveals to Maimun, which means "Doubly Lucky", that he is the man who found Maimun as a baby and left him with Elbeth, the Druidess. Now that she is gone facing down her opponent, whose name is Asbeel, it is time for Perrault to take up his training and raising.

Perrault raises Maimun for another six years before deciding to go to Waterdeep and return to him his legacy, a small black stone which he instructs Maimun to wear around his body on a leather sling, Maimun does so, and asks Perrault what it is, but the Bard is not very forthcoming on this subject, nor has he been on Maimun's parents and who they were and how they died, or who Asbeel is. But when Perrault is killed, Maimun must make for safety on his own, and encounters the Ship Sea Sprite, under Captain Dudermont, and a certain Drow Elf Ranger.

But can Maimun escape Asbeel and the forces who want the stone? And what does the stone do, anyway? Can Maimun find answers in a world that seems content to keep throwing him into danger and letting those around him die? How will he ever find the truth?

This book was specifically written as a YA novel, and I think it's perfect for teens who are into fantasy. Maimun makes the perfect blank slate: doesn't know anything about his origins, doesn't know his real name, doesn't have many skills, and so on and so forth. And now he's on his own, trying to find out what he is, who he is and what this mysterious stone that is his birthright is.

Maimun doesn't possess any magic or supernatural powers, he's just a teenager, but intelligent, fairly wise and highly observant. And he makes friends of some very powerful and important people in the novel. But can they save him from Asbeel? And more to the point, who and what is Asbeel? We don't know, nor do we get any sort of hint from the book, save that he may be demonic, or some sort of Fire Genasi(?), given his predilection for fire and fiery things (and his consternation when Perrault hits him with a sword that produces cold).

what is Maimun's story? We can't know for sure, but this is one ride I hope to follow to the end.