C. J Cherryh
Two surprising allies have emerged to aid the embattled ruler in a struggle he must win: Cefwyn's two young sons. Aewyn Marhanen is the prince destined to rule. Aewyn's half-brother, Elfwyn Aswydd—the bastard son of the king and the sorceress Tarien Aswydd—has spent years unaware of his parentage, yet now it is his time to emerge and claim the gifted birthright he's been denied for so long.
But a dark, sinister magic has crept
...3) The Paladin
WE DIDN'T KNOW—WE ONLY BELIEVED—NOW YOU'VE COME BACK
"Does it seem reasonable to you that a Regency continues—into an Emperor's thirtieth year "
"No, m'lord," Shoka said.
"Not to us, either. Not to many of us. We were ready to make that objection—when lord Gitu overran Yijang and Hua.... Assassinations, elsewhere. Hired killers. Bands of mercenaries traveling under imperial orders. The Emperor's seal,
...