Author(s): Duncan Lay

Fantasy

Disillusioned, now derided as the 'Butcher of Bellic', war hero Martil leaves his beloved homeland in search of peace. Set upon by bandits, he is tricked into taking a small child, Karia, to her uncle. But the village has been gutted of its people - except for one ex-bandit who has the Dragon Sword, a magical relic belonging to the rulers of Norstalos. Now Martil and Karia find themselves swept up in the struggle for a country. Norstalos's first-ever queen is trying to keep her crown while her cousin, Duke Gello, wants it and is prepared to do anything, even make a deal with dark powers, to get it. Martil finds himself caring for a child, fighting for a queen and discovering that even a magical sword is no guarantee of victory.