General Wyl Thirsk of Morgravia has seen his best friend slain, his sister tortured, and his mentor consigned to a certain death, all at the sadistic whim of his sovereign, King Celimus. Now Celimus hungrily eyes he neighboring realm, Briavel, and its inexperienced Queen Valentyna, pressuring her into a doomed political marriage-thereby forcing Wyl's hand toward confrontation and treason, for only he can save the woman he loves from her hideous fate...
