Beasts of Burden

In the royal household of Niahn'si Pohl, the lord's eldest son, Kan, has lived a life of privilege. He has had the best education, been groomed in the courtly arts, and set upon the path of leadership. Chosen by God and fate, he will one day rise to assume his father's throne in loyal support to their great emperor. But in a land where divine providence comes with equally giant stature and dominion over the great, shaggy giants that toil on the Komasaru plains, Kan senses that something is wrong. When one of the massive beasts, a tahn-chen, breaks into the family compound, Kan is forced to face some disturbing implications that cast a dark shadow over the foundation of his entire world. Cover art by Louis Frank.