ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Sheila Gilbert has been patient above and beyond the call of Duty for this book. It was late and although I plead unusual circumstances, it certainly wasn't her fault.
The usual suspects were also extremely helpful--and I'd particularly like to thank Kate Elliott and Tanya Huff because it's always nice (my penchant for understatement is showing here) to have someone to call when I've hit the middle-of-the-book-and-I-hate-every-word stretch of the novel.
Contents Dramatis Personae AIDAN: I AIDAN: II CHAPTER ONE CHAPTER TWO CHAPTER THREE CHAPTER FOUR CHAPTER FIVE CHAPTER SIX CHAPTER SEVEN CHAPTER EIGHT CHAPTER NINE CHAPTER TEN CHAPTER ELEVEN CHAPTER TWELVE CHAPTER THIRTEEN CHAPTER FOURTEEN CHAPTER FIFTEEN CHAPTER SIXTEEN CHAPTER SEVENTEEN CHAPTER EIGHTEEN CHAPTER NINETEEN CHAPTER TWENTY CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE CHAPTER THIRTY CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE EPILOGUE AIDAN EPILOGUE: SER ANTON DI'GUIVERA Annagarian Ranks Tyr'agar - Ruler of the Dominion Tyr'agnate - Ruler of one of the five Terreans of the Dominion Tyr - The Tyr'agar or one of the four Tyr'agnate Tyran - Personal bodyguard (oathguard) of a Tyr Tor'agar - A noble in service to a Tyr Tor'agnate A noble in service to a Tor'agar; least of noble ranks Tor - A Tor'agar or Tor'agnate Toran - Personal bodyguard (oathguard) of a Tor Ser - A clansman Serra - The primary wife and legitimate daughters of a clansman kai The holder or first in line to the clan title par - The brother of the first in line; the direct son of the title holder Dramatis Personae ESSALIEYAN AVANTARI (The Palace) The Royals King Reymalyn: the Justice-born King King Cormalyn: the Wisdom-bom King Queen Marieyan (an 'Cormalyn) Queen Siodonay The Fair (an'Reymalyn) Prince Reymar: son of the Queen Siodonay & Reymaris Prince Cormar: son of the Queen Marieyan & Cormaris Princess Mirialyn ACormaris: daughter of Queen Marieyan & King Cormalyn The Non-Royals Duvari: the Lord of the Compact; leader of the Astari Devon ATerafin: member of the Astari and of House Terafin Commander Sivari: former King's Champion (at the Summer Games) The Hostages Ser Valedan kai di'Leonne (Raverra): the heir to the Sword of The Dominion Serra Marlena en 'Leonne: Valedan's mother; born a slave; granted honorific "Serra" because her son has been recognized and claimed as legitimate Ser Fillipo par di'Callesta (Averda): brother to the Tyr'agnate of Averda Serra Tara di'Callesta: his Serra Michaele di'Callesta: oldest son Frederick di'Callesta: youngest son Andrea en 'Callesta: his concubine Ser Kyro di 'Lorenza (Sorgassa): the oldest of the hostages Serra Helena di'Lorenzo: the only wife he has; he has taken no others Ser Gregori di'Lorenzo: his son Ser Mauro di'Garradi (Oerta) Serra Alina di'Lamberto (Mancorvo) Imperial Army The Eagle: Commander Bruce Allen.
