He is a prince of the Royal House of Ximerion, a fiercely competitive dynasty. He is only sixteen years old when his father, the high king, gives him and his older half-brother — and rival for the succession — a prestigious title with no substance. While their father and older brothers confront a major power in the south, the young princes are packed off to defend the northern borders against raids by barbarian tribes.

Except…

The army they were given by their father is far too small to defend the Northern Marches, not to mention that the experienced general — and friend of their father — who leads the army doesn't seem all that eager to fight. Neither are the northern lords or the local population interested in defending themselves. And money is scarce… The half-brother princes begin to suspect they were set up for failure by their own father.

Then the unthinkable happens, and the youngest prince finds himself a captive, all alone, without friends, in a faraway region and surrounded by enemies, among which foremost his own family. If he wants to survive he needs to grow up fast.

An epic fantasy story in an alternative historical medieval setting, packed with action and adventure, politics and intrigue, but also friendship, love and romance.

Warning: the protagonists of this novel are gay and there are explicit scenes of man on man action. This dark fantasy also features some cruel events, none of them gratuitous, but some readers may find them too hard.