The Fruit of War: Stone and Flesh

For readers who like their fantasy intelligent, immersive, and simmering with ghosts of the past – both figurative and literal.“Nothing truly dies – it merely changes.”The War of the Six and the Plague of the Bitter Hand unleashed at its peak has left the kingdoms of Ícalar in tatters. Years after a tenuous peace is made, the last surviving member of the heroic Hidden Company, Iknaïs, succumbs to the plague. Wearied Shepherd of Leaving Fîeron Eburos is called to attend the body and release Iknaïs’ soul, yet insodoing, he discovers a message pointing to the very artifact that began the war. Most confusingly of all, this message states that Iknaïs was entrusted with the artifact by the enemy and that Fîeron needs to find it at any cost.Fîeron's reluctant duty leads him to Devatska, an elderly, brilliant engineer-strategist living in anonymity after the mysterious culling of her family. But in solving the riddle of Iknaïs' last request, they are only met with more questions – about the war, their alleged enemy, and the very nature of their world.