The Masked Queen (Drottingr)

First book in the Allegory of Aonta series

In twenty-two years, only two people have seen Drottine Lyssia's face - her father, the Kongr of Ilvana, and Seaka, an old Lach who helped care for Lyssia as a child after her mother died of the Red Fever. Grief is the reason that the Kongr states for chaining his young daughter to a mask. Fear of anyone finding out the secret they share is what keeps Lyssia chained to masks even after the physical chains are removed.

Lyssia must learn to navigate her world through the narrow eye slits that serve as both her prison and her freedom. She learns one truth early on that helps her bear the burden of her secret and her role as the daughter of the Kongr.

Everyone wears a mask, whether their faces are covered or not. Everyone has secrets that they wish to keep hidden.

When Magnor, the newly crowned Kongr of Dunival arrives in Ilvana with the news of his father's death and the intention of making changes to the peace treaty between their two kongdomren, Lyssia realizes that Magnor's secrets could be very dangerous.

Grief, trust, honesty, fear, depression, courage...these are only a few things that Lyssia must find the strength to embrace and overcome in her journey to becoming the Drottingr that the people of Ilvana - and the rest of Aonta - need.

But, of course, she can't survive this journey on her own. She's going to need help, and for that she's going to have to find someone who she can truly trust. But if everyone is wearing a mask, can you ever really know who is trustworthy and who is deceiving you?
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A kongdomr of warriors, though rusted their swords
A kongdomr of voices, raised in hopeful song
A kongdomr of drakuns, forsaken, forgotten
A kongdomr of masks, neither young nor old
A kongdomr of faces, expectantly raised
To this new chance, a new age
A new Drottingr
Ilvana of legend
Rise, Warriors, Rise

-penned by Skald-dreg Azerian Carrynson
beholden to Skald-middig Bjarke Duinenson