The Kings’ Challenge It was a proving ground for warriors in the Essalieyan Empire, the hallowed contest that made legends of men. And for Valedan, last survivor of the ruling family of the Dominion, it was a decla­ra­tion of his right to claim the throne stolen from the Leonne clan by treachery and assassination. Failure to earn the title of Kings’ Cham­pion would not deprive Valedan of either his Dominion or Essalieyan allies, but winning would announce to the world that he was no callow boy, no mere pawn in the games of power. And the games of power were indeed being played – not only in Empire and Dominion but in the far more dangerous realm of the Lord of Night. As the time … Continue reading →