The Lung Family Chronicles

Eberhard II smiled inwardly as he knelt and kissed the ring on the cold, dead hand of his father, King Eberhard I of Wurttemberg, a kingdom bordering Switzerland to the south, France to the west, Bavaria to the east and Hesse to the north (present-day Germany). He thought, "You wanted to cheat your own son, your own flesh and blood from the throne! What a shame, Father, that your horse fell and broke your neck before you could make it official. Just yesterday, with your knights surrounding you after the hunt, laughter and scorn was in your voice as you told them, and me, that you were going to declare your brother's son, Ulrich, to be the rightful heir. Now who's laughing, Father? This morning the crown was placed upon my head, and the princes and dukes are bowing to me. To me, Father!"