Castle Town

The king is dying and Prince Makoa wishes to replace him. The mighty Heralder King of Osteanus is privy to many time-honored traditions including the right to call upon the four underqueens as consorts.

Prince Makoa and Underqueen Avina deal with the aftermath of the dustwalker attack.

Prince Makoa and Underqueen Avina tend to matters in Harvestglade with war on the horizon.

Prince Koa arrives in Twinfalls while Underqueen Avina turns her attention south.

Prince Makoa and Underqueen Avina reunite in Harvestglade, with war looming on the horizon.

Winter has arrived in Harvestglade alongside war. Prince Makoa seeks to defend his lands against the Estorian invaders, yet struggles with his own grief and the daunting magnitude of the problem. The Estorians field an army of men, monsters, and most horrifying of all—politicians, necessitating a creative approach to defense.

Meanwhile, Underqueen Avina attempts to bring stability back to Harvestglade while Petra searches desperately for the traitors and their hostage. Torn between her concern for Koa and her anxiety for her esper, Avina can do little else but wait. At least, until word from her fellow underqueens arrives requesting her presence at a conference to determine the future of the realm. With Harvestglade still near to full strength, it’s a long awaited and rather cathartic reversal of roles to set off knowing this time, her rivals will take her perspective seriously.

Prince Makoa has achieved what he once could only have dreamed of. Twinfalls is now under his control. The heralder throne, of course, is now his, one among many spoils of war, though the title of heralder king itself still just alludes him. But power is only powerful within context. Underqueen Avina, his beloved mother, has her own thoughts on both his rule and the path forward. Sparks fly between her and her son as he attempts to navigate defending his new prize from the threat of a reformed Estorian army.