Chapter 1

Starhaven, Kingdom of Sidor

“The king is dead.”

“What? When?” Aldric said, turning from the balcony, where he’d been lost in thought, watching the sprawling island city beneath him and the sparkling sea beyond.

“Not ten minutes ago. The sickness finally finished what the Lynesians started,” his brother Edmund said, stepping onto the balcony.

Aldric sagged, leaning against the railing as the words hit home. For all of their eldest brother’s faults, and they had been legion, he still loved the man. The Golden Lion had been a towering figure. It seemed impossible for him to be gone.

“Why didn’t you send for me?” Aldric asked, getting ahold of himself.

“To do what? He’s been hanging onto death for almost a month now. What would you have said that you haven’t already? And what would it have mattered? He couldn’t hear you. Grieving over our idiot brother and his recklessness won’t bring him back.”

“Mind your words,” Aldric warned.

Edmund waved a hand dismissively and said, “I’ll instruct the stewards to begin preparations for a receiving in the Grand Hall worthy of his station. Happy? Now, there are more important matters to be concerned about. Serwyn is destined for the throne, but he’s barely out of childhood. He’s going to need guidance, and we have a war to think about.”

“What do you mean?” Aldric asked, eyes narrowing suspiciously.

“As the eldest, or at least eldest still living, I’ll serve as regent and guardian for Serwyn until he comes of age.”

“Serwyn is of age. He’s fourteen, hardly a boy anymore. He doesn’t need regency. Guidance, yes, but he’s entitled to rule in his own name.”

Edmund waved a hand, dismissing the thought.

“The law grants me regency until his coronation. We cannot afford to look weak now, not with men still in the field.”

“I think the nobles will have something to say about your interpretation. Our brother is not even cold yet, and you’re already plotting. You’re only granted the right to maintain the kingdom, not a regency.”

“The nobility will respect my decision. The boy is untested and needs guidance. Either way, you said yourself that I have the right to maintain the kingdom. We cannot hold Serwyn’s coronation until after Gavric’s receiving is done and the rites are finished. Until then, I have the responsibility, and the right, to ensure Sidor’s strength. And I’ll need your help.”

“What kind of help?”

“I will stay in Starhaven with Serwyn, serving as his advisor. Since we can both agree that he is too inexperienced to lead men in war, you will go to Lynese and take command of our forces, finishing what Gavric started. They need a member of the family at their head and we’ve spent too much of the treasury on this foolishness already. We need to either defeat the Lynese or sue for peace. I don’t care which, as long as this drain on the kingdom ends.”

“I disagreed with him as much as anyone, but Gavric proved the war could be won. Maybe the scheme their emperor had with the Alchmara didn’t warrant it, but he was right about needing to show Baudric he couldn’t interfere with our lands. Walking away now will embolden the man.”

“Fine, then win the war. I don’t care. Just take care of it.”

“But...”

“No. As regent, this is my decision to make, and I’ve made it. One of us must go, and we both know who’s better suited,” Edmund said, pausing. “Unless you think it wise to let one of the other dukes lead the army?”

“Of course not,” Aldric said.

Edmund had him in a box. He was correct when he said he had no mind for war. For every martial virtue Gavric had maintained, Edmund had focused on manipulation and politics. It had served him well, and during their brother’s rule, he’d used it to strengthen their house, but it did not suit him to lead men into combat.

“Then it’s settled,” Edmund said, turning and leaving as abruptly as he’d come.

William brought up the wooden training sword, parrying the slash with a quick turn of the wrist, the clack of wood on wood echoing across the empty courtyard. It had been a spirited attack, but clumsy. He and his cousin Serwyn might be the same age, but William was the superior swordsman. That wasn’t just his own ego speaking. The sword master had said as much several times, although tactfully enough to keep from being on the receiving end of his cousin’s ire, which wasn’t an easy feat.

William was far less tactful and couldn’t repress a smile as he countered his cousin’s attack, pushing him back on the defensive. Serwyn grew increasingly frustrated, his defense becoming wild and uncontrolled. William watched Serwyn carefully, reading his body language and predicting his next move. As Serwyn lunged, attempting to regain the momentum, he overextended his reach. William sidestepped it and landed a stinging blow to Serwyn’s back.

His cousin stumbled forward, barely keeping his feet under him, whirling to face him, his cheeks reddened by exertion and anger.

“You got lucky,” Serwyn spat, clutching his training sword tightly.

William said nothing. It had not been luck, and they both knew it. What really added insult to injury was that Serwyn trained for hours every day under the best weapon masters in the kingdom, while William had to make do with whatever guardsman might be available to work with him.

Any time he asked for better tutors, his stepfather had demurred, claiming other obligations came first. Not that William didn’t train as hard or as often, but much of that was alone, against practice dummies, working things out on his own.

Which didn’t sit well with his cousin any time they sparred and William won. Serwyn launched himself forward with a roar, swinging his wooden sword toward William’s ribs. William pivoted deftly to the side, Serwyn’s blade whizzing past him with inches to spare. The duel had been going on for some time now, and Serwyn’s attacks were growing increasingly reckless as frustration took hold.

After a quick flurry of strikes and counters, William spotted an opening in Serwyn’s defense. He feinted left, then as Serwyn moved to block, he ducked low and swept his leg out, knocking Serwyn’s feet out from under him. His cousin hit the ground hard, his sword clattering away across the stones.