When the succession is at stake, these are the players who will make the difference. You probably would have never guessed if you'd known them before. Prequel stories to Royal Obligation.

Playing the hand you are dealt is something everyone has to learn. It doesn't matter if you're a sorceress or a schoolgirl, a princess or even a king. You might have a magic ring or be the queen, but none of this means your choices will be easy when it comes to marriage, love, or war. In this short story collection, you will see how 6 different characters figure out how to lead, follow suit, or fold. Also, enjoy a preview of Old Habits Die Hard, Book 5 in the Reign of the Eagle series, and a never-before-seen floorplan of the Prince's Palace in Rawdon, one of the vital locations in the Myrcia novels.

Choices have consequences, whether it's studying for an exam, going out for that fancy job, or marrying in haste. Sometimes, the consequences are immediate, but they can also take an entire career to unfold or even centuries. See how just a few of the choices made by bankers, sorcerers, and monks can shape the future in these standalone fantasy short stories.

Home from the army and bored with war, Andras Byrne just wants to enjoy himself. But his mother, the most powerful duchess in Myrcia, has finally lost patience with Broderick Gramiren, the usurper. In a desperate move, the duchess sends Andras to arrange a marriage alliance with Princess Elwyn Sigor, who wants nothing to do with Andras or his family. Princess Donella, daughter of Broderick, isn't about to let Andras get away that easily. Torn between the courtly romances of her imagination and her duty to her friend, Donella will have to decide just how far she is willing to go to stop Andras from marrying the wrong person. And she will discover what happens when a princess stops being a lady.

Shifting alliances and passions will determine the future of the Kingdom of Myrcia, but in which direction? While kings and courtiers try to set up strategic marriages, others hope to marry for love, or not marry at all. And in the meantime, sorcerers and outside influences make their own attempts to determine the kingdom's next stage. The action picks up where the Of Duty and Silver series leaves off, although the six novels in the Reign of the Eagle series can be wholly enjoyed on their own.

An idealistic young loan officer finds his true calling when a sorceress approaches him about starting a new bank. When an exiled monk arrives in town looking for a loan, the new bank might be his best bet, or worst option ever. In the midst of these deliberations is a retired accountant who must return to his homeland to negotiate on behalf of the bank and help a friend in need. But to be of any help at all, he will have to work with (or around) the last man he ever wanted to see again. Along the way, these four face threats from sorcerers, inept bureaucrats and nobles, and sometimes even their own allies. It's truly shocking how epic the world of banking can be.

After 8 years of war, the Emperor gives the sorcerer Faustinus an ultimatum--kill Daryna Olekovna and win the war, or else. But Daryna is a fellow sorcerer...and Faustinus's former lover. Society women, warriors, sorcerers, assassins, and even a confused teenage boy all have a role to play in the grand final act of this two hundred-year-old love story. The Last Bright Angel is a book about love and loss, treachery and honor. It's a book about becoming your best self…even if that means becoming the angel of death. See how the Of Duty and Silver series comes to its astonishing close.