Two princes lead a war-broken people. One rules while the other serves in the shadows, haunted by encroaching death. Halavant overthrew his queen mother to save his people from slavery, and now she seeks his life. Yosyph acts as the new king's eyes and ears, but being invisible comes at great cost and his life is slipping away. To save his closest friend, Halavant travels to the land of the skin-carving Carani, leaving Yosyph to rule a troubled people despite his ill health and the nobles on the verge of rebellion. Unless Halavant can survive in the land of his enemies to find a cure and Yosyph can unite the frightened and starving people against a second war, both will die and their budding democracy will crumble under a new tyrant. Sequel to The King's Trial 2020 Whitney Awards Nominee