If there were two more impetuous and carefree men in the Kingdom of the
Isles, they had yet to be found. Twins Borric and Erland wore that
mantle proudly, much to the chagrin of their father, Prince Arutha of
Krondor. But their blissful youth has come to an end. Their uncle, the
King, has produced no male children. Bypassing himself, Arutha names
Borric, the eldest twin by seconds, the Royal Heir. As his brother,
Erland will have his own great responsibilities to shoulder. To drive
home their future roles, Arutha sends them as ambassadors to Kesh, the
most feared nation in the world. Borric and Erland will be presented to
the Queen of Kesh — the single most powerful ruler in the known world — at
her Seventy-fifth Jubilee Anniversary.
But they have not even
left Krondor when an assassination attempt on Borric is thwarted. Aware
that he is being provoked into war, Arutha does not rise to the bait.
His sons’ journey will not be deterred, for nothing less than peace is
riding on it. Yet there is to be no peace for the young princes. When
their traveling party is ambushed, Borric disappears and is presumed
dead — sending Erland into spirals of rage and grief as he is forced to
navigate alone the court intrigues at Kesh. But unbeknownst to anyone,
Borric lives and has escaped his captors. In a strange land, with a
price on his head, Borric must use all his wits and stamina to find his
way back to his brother.
On separate paths, the two men — one a
fugitive and one a future king — make their journey toward maturity,
honor, and duty. For every step they take could sway the fragile peace
of the land, as those who crave war rally against them — and become ever
more daring.
