The Ash Staff (MagicQuest Book #4 : Book One in the Ash Staff Series))

Mole is an orphan, one of a small band cared for by the old man Rhawn. The land of Pesten where they live is becoming darker and colder, and with the darkness come other creatures, dragons and wolfmen who ravage the land. When Rhawn dies, Mole becomes a leader before his time, as he and the orphans are entrusted with a dangerous quest: to destroy the sorcerer Ammar and prevent him from sending the world into an everlasting winter.