Kol of Sornia

In the contested territory of the Campos, where legends slumber in ancient ruins and sea serpents are only a distant nightmare, one soldier faces a choice: obey orders and make a name for himself, or follow his heart and face a traitor's death, alone on the stormy plains.

For ten years, Kol has eked out a living in the Sornian military as a nameless pawn. In a rigid hierarchy where status is bought rather than earned, he is the perfect soldier. With no family, no friends, not even a last name, he has nothing to lose but his life.

When Captain Roen handpicks him to lead a covert scouting mission into enemy territory, it feels like the break he has long awaited. His task is simple but deadly: infiltrate a Valennian outpost and uncover the vulnerabilities of a secret war waged in the dark for over a century. Success could earn him a name. Failure will mean the end.

But at the remote encampment, Kol's certainty begins to unravel after an unexpected encounter with an enemy noblewoman, one that forces him to question his duty, his loyalty, and the kingdom he serves.

In this gripping prequel to the Legends of Andolin series, a hero rises from the dregs of an empire. Caught between a corrupt command and the stirrings of a long-dormant conscience, Kol must decide whether to remain the army's unflinching servant, or face the fires of treason to claim his own path.