His Majesty is ill, and no one knows how grave. But matters of state must press on. All hail Her Majesty to assume her husband’s authority. But the line of succession is clear … Alindale Dain – The Prince nobody wants. Alindale’s reputation is poor among the nobles and ministries. He is seen as aloof, unconfident, and a bore—nothing most want in the heir to the throne. A few encourage him to become more active, but Alindale is uncertain, trapped by everyone’s low opinion of him. However, as arising circumstances push him into a conflict with his own mother, ruling in his father’s place, will he take this opportunity to become the prince he needs to be? Or is it too late to change anyone’s mind? Tory Syros – The Outsider nobody knows. Tory is making her first appearance at court and her first venture outside her home province, the Syros Isles, yet nobody knows her. Worse still, she pales in the shadow of her older, more well-versed, beautiful, and secretly abusive sister, Serina. In an effort to set herself apart, Tory swims into deeper waters than she ever could have imagined. When faced with her own choices, will she take a stand for what she believes is right, or will she remain silent so the monsters don’t notice her? Kalleb Kane – The Deserter everybody hates. Kalleb was a lancer who left his post to join his father and brother in battle but arrived too late. After five years of imprisoned, hard labor, he is granted an exceptional parole and offer to rejoin the Storm Cavalry, his family’s legacy, and be a lancer once again. There is a price, though. He is given the lowest rank and condemned never to be promoted. He is assigned to a new company, over a troop of boys who have never held a lance in their lives, under the command of a captain who despises him and seeks to revoke his parole and to a post that holds regretful memories. But, as greater events threaten his family, Kalleb must decide: will he desert again? For over 500 years, the status of the world has gone unchanged. In one year, three events will shatter it. The first happens in the east.