Prologue

Eric Yagaro sat at the dinner table in his family castle of Soyagone, at the right side of his uncle Chosan who took the Lord’s chair at the head table in the great hall. That chair would be where Eric would sit when he came of age. Chosan ruled as regent for now. But in two years’ time, he would relinquish his power to Eric. As always, their cousins the Presteegs sat with them, as did Dargin Saru, Eric’s goblin bodyguard, and Helena Garlifa, Eric’s music teacher and the tiger woman Chosan had taken to courting.

Chosan ate a large portion of food as usual. There was silence for the most part around the table. Eric thought of his parent’s stories, he’d read, or gone through the book of memories they’d left. It showed up to the point that he had been born as well as his father’s battle with Corgo and Margery leaving Soyagone. But there was something else he wanted to know about. He turned to Chosan.

“Uncle Chosan?” he asked.

Chosan chewed his food and swallowed before looking at his nephew. “Yes Eric?”

“I was just wondering something,” Eric said. “What happened here at Soyagone after my mother and I left? We were gone for nearly fourteen years so I imagine a lot happened.”

Chosan hesitated. “Oh, it wasn’t anything too glorious. A few events happened here and there. I became the Lord regent here and had to rebuild our army after the attack from Corgo, among other things. We had the attempted robbery where we lost some good people like your Great Aunt Myra.”

The members of the Presteeg family looked down at the mention of their wife, mother, stepmother and grandmother. Myra Presteeg, who shared her name with her granddaughter that sat with them. Even Lorala Presteeg, the coldest member of the family, looked down.

“It was a time of peace, thanks to Derair,” Omulus said. “My son, and our other children were born.”

“You wouldn’t marry my mother though,” Omaron said. “And now people ridicule me as the bastard’s bastard!”

Omulus ignored his son as Chosan spoke.

“It might not be the most exciting tale but if you really want to hear it.”

Eric nodded.

Chosan smiled. “Alright, but first I want to finish this.”

He devoured the rest of his food then looked at Eric.

“After your father’s funeral, I was officially named Lord of Soyagone in a ceremony.”