The Bloody Crown

"Your every victory will turn to defeat, your triumphs to tragedies, your conquests to calamities."

The way through the Black Isles is open, and Karik is eager to take full advantage of their victory. His hope to end the starvation in Vrania is almost within reach.
But Karik and Ylmi quickly discover that they have stumbled into a chaotic web of wars, alliances, and old hatreds. But even as they try to navigate these new challenges, Ylmi is forced once again to reckon with the greed of King Jarhost, and the power that he still wield. Above it hall hangs the curse of the dragon, and the words of the seer which fill Karik and Ylmi with doubt.

Vortimer has been king only a short time, but he knows that his luck is beginning to run out. He's won a civil war, escaped assassinations, and begun to build some bit of peace. But the Cirithulian Empire with its endless legions is beginning to press against his kingdom, and prince Heinvar from the north is growing restless as well. And to make matters worse, mysterious raiders have appeared from the sea, and they are rumored to be led by the mythical Vranr, come to extract his vengeance.