After the king and queen died at sea a year ago, the young Prince Nigel stepped into his father’s role with grace, but someone close to him already threatens to rip the kingdom apart—and he can do nothing but watch.Childhood friends of the king, Luke and Anthanasius, join with the lords of the land to keep the kingdom together, but it is for their loyalty to his late father, rather than his weakening son that the lords attempt anything.With his former friends and dwindling number of loyal subjects braving dungeons, accusations of regicide, underground tunnels, attempted assassinations, and the mental tortures of hard decisions, the king is unaware that his kingdom hangs by a thread. Keeping it together required going behind the king’s back, but he’s too powerless to stop his friends. Life stayed… predictable.Until the betraying insider brought their ancient enemies, the Shalmen, back to their shores.A king in name only, Nigel feels powerless, with his grip on the kingdom, and his freedom, slipping. Even the lords are faltering in their loyalty, but his friends stay by his side until he can fight for himself. If his friends fail, the king and the kingdom are lost. Ultimately, Nigel comes to realize captivity is worse than possible death.