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Apr. 6th, 2021 10:51 pmThe story so far:
Two years ago, the country of Hyem saw a bloody revolution.
Festus Detrich, peasant-born soldier and revolutinary leader, hoped to become a member of the new parliament: instead, he became Land's Own Guardian, linchpin of the nation's web of souls - for centuries a largely symbolic role. Two years later, near the border of Hyem with its powerful neighbour Adalas, he is shot and wounded by an unknown assassin.
Detrich hopes to use the attack as casus belli for Hyem to go to war on Adalas, to claim valuable trade routes and to forge his people into soldiers. In the course of investigating, he meets Saul Samaren: an exiled boy-soldier from the civil war-torn country of Ilyiga. Impressed with the boy's prowess, he takes Saul under his wing.
In Hyem's capitol, Detrich contends with his implacable political enemy, Duke Emen Stattenholme, who is firmly opposed to war: the Duke secretly arranges a series of crises that leave Detrich dangerously exhausted. Even as Saul grows to admire and love his new mentor, the Duke attempts to lure him with a promise that killing Detrich would earn him a place back in Ilyiga. Saul also becomes involved with a group of student radicals led by Yunas, a nobleman's heir, converted to the cause, and his commoner lover Sofia. He learns of and supports their plan to raise a riot on the Duke's house and kill him in Detrich's name.
On the night of the riot, Detrich is forced into a corner and must tell his people to stand down. Meanwhile the Duke permits Yunas into his house planning to allow him to kill an important diplomatic envoy from Adalas and thus end the political crisis with apologies from both sides. Instead Saul, fearing that the Duke's death would lead to Detrich's worst fear of civil war in Hyem, follows Yunas, stops and kills him. His plan undone, Stattenholme schemes to have the drained and ill Detrich subtly poisoned and have Saul take the blame: rather by accident, Saul foils that as well. Putting together what they've learned of the Duke's ploys, Saul and Detrich realize that Stattenholme was behind the initial assassination attempt, on the orders of the kaiser of Hyem. Detrich uses this knowledge to blackmail the Kaiser into declaring war on Adalas come spring.
In the aftermath, Detrich, shaken by the weight of his decisions, begins to reconsider Saul's future as his soldier. He is further troubled by Sofia telling him he has lost her trust, and tries to make right by offering to sponsor her through university. After Saul is injured in a fight, Detrich makes the decision not to allow him into the army for the war - a decision Saul is hurt and infuriated by.
Trying to keep a low profile for the reminder of winter, Detrich takes Saul on a long journey south, as both of them struggle with the possibility of a changed perspective and a hopeful, peaceful future. When they visit the military academy, Saul is cornered and nearly attacked by three noble-born cadets and, not wanting to break Detrich's trust again, doesn't fight back: Detrich rescues him, but he is deeply shaken by the his first ever experience of helplessness and terror. Detrich shares his own painful story of having left a man to die in order to secure his place in the academy. The two begin to mend their relationship, and Saul is soon given a chance to try a peaceful calling when asked to repair a temple's priceless book of psalms.
Now their travels finally lead them to Hyem's hardscrabble southwest, to Detrich's home village and the people and memories it holds.
Two years ago, the country of Hyem saw a bloody revolution.
Festus Detrich, peasant-born soldier and revolutinary leader, hoped to become a member of the new parliament: instead, he became Land's Own Guardian, linchpin of the nation's web of souls - for centuries a largely symbolic role. Two years later, near the border of Hyem with its powerful neighbour Adalas, he is shot and wounded by an unknown assassin.
Detrich hopes to use the attack as casus belli for Hyem to go to war on Adalas, to claim valuable trade routes and to forge his people into soldiers. In the course of investigating, he meets Saul Samaren: an exiled boy-soldier from the civil war-torn country of Ilyiga. Impressed with the boy's prowess, he takes Saul under his wing.
In Hyem's capitol, Detrich contends with his implacable political enemy, Duke Emen Stattenholme, who is firmly opposed to war: the Duke secretly arranges a series of crises that leave Detrich dangerously exhausted. Even as Saul grows to admire and love his new mentor, the Duke attempts to lure him with a promise that killing Detrich would earn him a place back in Ilyiga. Saul also becomes involved with a group of student radicals led by Yunas, a nobleman's heir, converted to the cause, and his commoner lover Sofia. He learns of and supports their plan to raise a riot on the Duke's house and kill him in Detrich's name.
On the night of the riot, Detrich is forced into a corner and must tell his people to stand down. Meanwhile the Duke permits Yunas into his house planning to allow him to kill an important diplomatic envoy from Adalas and thus end the political crisis with apologies from both sides. Instead Saul, fearing that the Duke's death would lead to Detrich's worst fear of civil war in Hyem, follows Yunas, stops and kills him. His plan undone, Stattenholme schemes to have the drained and ill Detrich subtly poisoned and have Saul take the blame: rather by accident, Saul foils that as well. Putting together what they've learned of the Duke's ploys, Saul and Detrich realize that Stattenholme was behind the initial assassination attempt, on the orders of the kaiser of Hyem. Detrich uses this knowledge to blackmail the Kaiser into declaring war on Adalas come spring.
In the aftermath, Detrich, shaken by the weight of his decisions, begins to reconsider Saul's future as his soldier. He is further troubled by Sofia telling him he has lost her trust, and tries to make right by offering to sponsor her through university. After Saul is injured in a fight, Detrich makes the decision not to allow him into the army for the war - a decision Saul is hurt and infuriated by.
Trying to keep a low profile for the reminder of winter, Detrich takes Saul on a long journey south, as both of them struggle with the possibility of a changed perspective and a hopeful, peaceful future. When they visit the military academy, Saul is cornered and nearly attacked by three noble-born cadets and, not wanting to break Detrich's trust again, doesn't fight back: Detrich rescues him, but he is deeply shaken by the his first ever experience of helplessness and terror. Detrich shares his own painful story of having left a man to die in order to secure his place in the academy. The two begin to mend their relationship, and Saul is soon given a chance to try a peaceful calling when asked to repair a temple's priceless book of psalms.
Now their travels finally lead them to Hyem's hardscrabble southwest, to Detrich's home village and the people and memories it holds.
