The Skull Throne of Krasia stands empty.

Built from the skulls of fallen generals and demon princes, it is a seat of honor and ancient, powerful magic, keeping the demon corelings at bay. From atop the throne, Ahmann Jardir was meant to conquer the known world, forging its isolated peoples into a unified army to rise up and end the demon war once and for all.

But Arlen Bales, the Warded Man, stood against this course, challenging Jardir to a duel he could not in honor refuse. Rather than risk defeat, Arlen cast them both from a precipice, leaving the world without a savior, and opening a struggle for succession that threatens to tear the Free Cities of Thesa apart.

In the south, Inevera, Jardir’s first wife, must find a way to keep their sons from killing one another and plunging their people into civil war as they strive for glory enough to make a claim on the throne.

In the north, Leesha Paper and Rojer Inn struggle to forge an alliance between the duchies of Angiers and Miln against the Krasians before it is too late.

Caught in the crossfire is the duchy of Lakton — rich and unprotected, ripe for conquest.

All the while, the corelings have been growing stronger, and without Arlen and Jardir there may be none strong enough to stop them. Only Renna Bales may know more about the fate of the missing men, but she, too, has disappeared.

Narrated by: Alyssa Wilmoth, Andy Brownstein, Bradley Smith, Chris Davenport, Christopher Graybill, Christopher Scheeren, Colleen Delany, Deidra Starnes, Dylan Lynch, Eric Messner, Eva Wilhelm, Gabriela Fernandez-Coffey, James Lewis, Joe Brack, Johann Dettweiler, Julie-Ann Elliot, Katy Carkuff, Ken Jackson, Kimberly Gilbert, Laura Harris, Michael Glenn, Michael John Casey, Mort Shelby, Nanette Savard, Nick DePinto, Nora Achrati, Ren Kasey, Richard Rohan, Rose Elizabeth Supan, Terence Aselford, Thomas Keegan, Thomas Penny, Tim Getman, Yasmin Tuazon