Thread 03
The People
Eckard, Dein and Elspeth.
Eckard, Dein and Elspeth. Three who stand when others look away, and who find that honor, survival and duty rarely point the same way.
Their choices will shape not only their own destinies, but the future of a land on the edge of war. This is a story about friendship first, and about what friendship costs when the world asks for more.
Eckard Sunnhilde
At twenty winters, Eckard Sunnhilde is a young mercenary raised among the Black Crows, where skill with a sword matters far more than noble blood. Confident, stubborn, and eager to prove himself, he has spent much of his life fighting alongside hardened veterans rather than learning the ways of court. Though descended from an ancient noble house, he never expected to claim its titles or lands. Now, a ducal writ naming him Baron of the Black Hills thrusts him into a world of shifting loyalties and political intrigue, where courage and a sharp blade may not be enough to secure his inheritance.
Dein
A hardened veteran of the Malaursrecht, Dein is a formidable swordsman whose sharp tongue is nearly as dangerous as his blade. One moment he speaks with the refinement and knowledge of a cultured gentleman, the next he is a foul-mouthed mercenary trading insults and drinking alongside the roughest of soldiers. His past remains a mystery, and he seems content to keep it that way. Among the Black Crows, he has become an unlikely mentor to Eckard, offering lessons that are often painful, rarely gentle, and always memorable. Yet beneath his contradictions lie secrets that even those closest to him have yet to uncover.
Elspeth
At eighteen winters, Elspeth finds herself caught between the ambitions of powerful families and the consequences of events beyond her control. Intelligent, strong-willed, and unwilling to surrender her future to the decisions of others, she must navigate a world where her birth and position make her both valuable and vulnerable. Her growing connection with Eckard offers a measure of hope, though the dangers surrounding the Black Hills threaten to determine her fate before she can choose it for herself.