Used – The Birth of the Sword Book 1, Tracy Hickman, Margaret Weis

Persecuted mages fled to another world where ordinary humans (without magical gifts) are called the Dead – those who are not awakened – to be distinguished from the dead – those who have fallen asleep forever. However, a prophecy proclaims: "One will be born in the Royal House who will be dead yet will live, who will die again and be reborn. And when he returns, he will hold the destruction of the world in his hand." Bishop Vanya tests the emperor's newborn son; having no gift, he is declared Dead and taken by the catalyst Saryon to the trial that will make him truly dead. Soon after, a young woman, Anja, and her baby Joram arrive in a village. They live in poverty, Anja teaching Joram sleight of hand tricks that allow him to conceal that he is Dead. But when Joram reaches his 17th year, the village chief orders him to prove he has the gift. He flees to a village of sorcerers who practice the forbidden art of technology... It is there that Joram, now an adult, will be recognized for who he truly is and, like Siegfried, will forge his own sword.