Prologue
The Autumn Court arrives with no warning.
No announcements declare it, no ravens precede it. It is simply there, waiting at the gates, leaving no time to prepare.
Generations ago, a war raged between the humans of Amarina and the elves of the Summer Realm. Thousands gave their lives in bloody battles that lasted many years. When the humans were all but lost the elves offered them a choice; to allow the elves to choose each new monarch of their kingdoms, or face the extinction of humankind. The humans, not ready to die, agreed to give the elves power over their line of succession and returned to Amarina to rebuild their lives. Since that day, an emissary from the Elven Autumn Court arrives in each human kingdom every generation to choose who they believe is fit to take the throne.
