The Swordmaster’s Matter

The Kingdom of Ivonwell is dying; crushed by the twin threats of internal malaise and a mysterious barbarian foe. Out of options and facing destruction the King dispatches Oulen, his most trusted advisor, on a desperate mission to beg for help from the rival Empire of Andelon. Unlike Ivonwell, Andelon is insulated from hardship, soft with self-indulgence, and deaf to the impending dangers from the world outside their borders. Together with Ciderfae, the clear-eyed daughter of a prominent Andeloni politician, Oulen and his assistant Emory become entangled in the political infighting that rots Andelon’s core. They discover in order to save their Kingdom they must first rescue an Empire.