A Queen's Game Book One: Trillinger

"This is only the beginning," was the cryptic reply, "He was only the practice round."

"TELL ME!" A wrist snapped.

"We are strong. We- no, they- they will rise from the Great Star and they will have the heads of your beloved monarchy and everything they stand for." She jerked against her captor and was granted the use of her right, unbroken hand which snatched a small knife and then plunged it into her own neck. She let out one final gasp as blood bubbled from her mouth and trickled down her chin.

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Raina had done everything to protect her family, made choices no woman should ever even have to consider. But after she dies giving birth to Shayleigh, who will be there to continue her work when all the while she's done it in secret?
When King Tarran dies seventeen years after the death of his mother, the entire kingdom is distraught and terrified of their warning: This was only the beginning. His father re-takes the crown, but everyone knows that it's only a matter of time before elderly man overwhelmed with grief dies, and there is no male heir.
Meanwhile, a large group of variously trained warriors leave their homes to track down King Tarran's murderers. With an adventure riddled with goblins, witchcraft, demons, dangerous secrets and so much more, will they be able to learn to trust and accept each other, or will everything collapse before the final card is revealed?