A forced peace exists in the Ten Kingdoms, brought about centuries ago by an external threat. Rather than all-out war between the lands, the kings of each kingdom gather at scheduled events, known as Portal Wars, along with their champions; whose task it is to enter a portal and fight until only one champion remains alive. The king of that champion is then crowned the ruler of the Kingdoms until the next Portal War. The wars will continue until only one king is left to contest rulership. At that point, that one will be crowned ruler and the Ten Kingdoms will finally be one. The next Portal War approaches and one of the kings has a plan to bring the wars to an end, with himself and his kingdom on top. And an old enemy threatens to return. Book one of The Warlord Trilogy.