Natalie Stuart watched grimly as the stone encasing closed over her father’s face. She glanced surreptitiously at the unwelcome guest who had arrived just before the burial ceremony began. King Loren stood to her left with a solemn expression, his shoulder-length brown hair held back by the circlet of gold around his head. His immaculate beard hid most of his face from view, but his hazel eyes seemed soft and sad. He had come regaled in splendid gold and deep purple, looking every bit the king of a flourishing country.

As she watched him, Nat felt only contempt and wondered who he’d hired to poison her father. She did not doubt for a moment that he was behind the murder. King Loren needed the emperor too much to allow one resistant voice to destroy his hopes of winning the war. W...

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