In Extremis

“Come at once. Ares is dying.” So reads the frantic message from Surchataine Nicole that brings Ares’ adopted son Henry out of exile after two years. When Henry arrives at Westford, he discovers vultures gathering over the province, eyeing Ares’ twin 14-year-old daughters, Sophie and Bonnie.

Accustomed to patrolling the wild western border of Lystra to keep out slavers, Henry must now readjust to courtly intrigues—a task made all the more difficult by the meaningless but conspicuous leper’s...