Showing results by author "Anya Merchant" in All Categories

After securing numerous treasures from within the depths of the kestian, Damon and his companions head to Avaricia intent on selling their rare finds. Unfortunately, the city of greed has its own plans for them. Damon quickly becomes caught up in a political struggle involving powerful women on opposite sides of a hidden war. What’s asked of him is something beyond what he can easily give, and he soon finds himself chafing against a world he left behind.

Will, Jess, and Rue return to Lancaster City and survey the damage.

Winter has arrived in Harvestglade alongside war. Prince Makoa seeks to defend his lands against the Estorian invaders, yet struggles with his own grief and the daunting magnitude of the problem. The Estorians field an army of men, monsters, and most horrifying of all—politicians, necessitating a creative approach to defense.

After fleeing Hearthold with a fugitive princess in tow, Damon Al-Kendras finally arrives home. He’s eager to see his Aesta and Ria once more after weeks of maintaining a careful, respectful balance between Vel and Kastet. But as it happens, coming home is just the start. A new enemy lurks in the shadows, one uniquely suited to the task of hunting and killing mages. When push comes to shove, what will Damon do to protect the women he loves?

After saying goodbye to Bylia, Damon receives a new quest in the form of a vague missive from Princess Kastet. He and Vel are both summoned to meet with her, but Malon is wary of letting them travel together unsupervised. Damon reluctantly makes a promise to his aesta to keep his hands to himself, or at the least, to seek her out during sleep with the dreamspell amulet, instead of turning his lust toward Vel. It’s an arrangement which is quickly tested, as it soon becomes clear that the new journey may lead them far from home.

Prince Makoa has achieved what he once could only have dreamed of. Twinfalls is now under his control. The heralder throne, of course, is now his, one among many spoils of war, though the title of heralder king itself still just alludes him. But power is only powerful within context. Underqueen Avina, his beloved mother, has her own thoughts on both his rule and the path forward. Sparks fly between her and her son as he attempts to navigate defending his new prize from the threat of a reformed Estorian army.

After leaving Azurecliff, Damon wanders Veridan’s Curve with an increasingly high bounty on his head. He’s desperate to find a way to help Vel wake up, regardless of where it comes from. Armed with his myrblade and an ounce of fleeting hope, he begins searching down leads.

Every job has its skill set, including being an innkeeper. With the Blacksoul Band vanquished, Damon sets aside swinging his sword for a life of pouring ale and polishing tables. He and his family, under their new names, find peace and comfort within the Rosewood Inn. Unfortunately, trouble has a way of rearing itself up while everyone is settling down. Princess Kastet's former lady-in-waiting, Lilian, shows up at the inn with a message from a powerful ally. A message which not everyone is interested in hearing....

Hunkering down under the guise of a humble innkeeper, Damon Al-Kendras continues to live a relatively peaceful life alongside his family. The days pass in a routine mixture of simple chores—serving drinks, wiping down the bar, and, of course, feeding the beautiful blood-sucking monster hidden in the basement. Like so many things in life, change is inevitable. Damon struggles to juggle Lilian’s growing hunger, new taxes levied by the town, and the watchful eyes of a woman with way too much free time on her hands.

Meanwhile, Underqueen Avina attempts to bring stability back to Harvestglade while Petra searches desperately for the traitors and their hostage. Torn between her concern for Koa and her anxiety for her esper, Avina can do little else but wait. At least, until word from her fellow underqueens arrives requesting her presence at a conference to determine the future of the realm. With Harvestglade still near to full strength, it’s a long awaited and rather cathartic reversal of roles to set off knowing this time, her rivals will take her perspective seriously.