The Exiled Queen

EQ cover — The cover art for the Exiled Queen

The Exiled Queen is the second instalment of the Seven Realms series.

Summary[]

Haunted by the loss of his mother and sister, hunted by the powerful Bayar family, Han Alister makes a devil’s bargain with the clans. If they sponsor his schooling at Mystwerk Academy at Oden’s Ford, he will become their magical sell-sword against the power-hungry Wizard Council.

Han and his clan friend Fire Dancer undertake the dangerous journey south through war-torn Arden. Once in Oden’s Ford, it doesn’t take long for the smoldering feud between Han and Micah Bayar to kindle into flame. After several attempts on his life, Han knows he has to find a way to defend himself.

In the magical dream world of Aediion, Han meets the mysterious Crow, a wizard with a long-standing grudge against the Bayars. Crow offers to tutor Han in wizardry in exchange for his help. Han agrees, once again forced into a bargain he hopes he won’t regret.

Meanwhile, Han’s friends Fire Dancer and Cat Tyburn struggle with their own demons. Dancer is determined to become a clan flashcrafter, despite his charmcaster status. Cat carries a load of guilt, as the only survivor of the slaughter of the gangs in Ragmarket and Southbridge.

Resuming her disguise as gently-born Rebecca Morley, Princess Raisa ana’Marianna travels with her friend Amon Byrne and his triple of cadets to Wien House, the military academy at Oden’s Ford. There she hopes she will find both temporary sanctuary from a forced marriage and the education she needs to succeed as the next Gray Wolf queen.

Much of Raisa’s education takes place outside of the classroom. As she mingles with students of all classes from throughout the Seven Realms, she forges the kind of friendships that don’t happen amid the cut-throat politics of the Gray Wolf Court. She also struggles to deal with her attraction to Amon—an attraction he seems determined to discourage.

When Han Alister asks the girl he knows as Rebecca to tutor him, she agrees. The streetlord turned wizard with the complicated past fascinates her, and he makes it clear the interest is mutual. But Han blames Queen Marianna and the Bayars for the loss of his family. As their relationship deepens, Raisa suspects that if Han knew her true identity, he wouldn’t want anything to do with her.

Chapters and Events[]

1. The West Wall

Mac Gillen's POV

Mac Gillen has been promoted to Lieutenant, and reassigned to the West Wall. Micah Bayar and his cousins visit him to tell him to keep an eye out for Raisa who may be trying to flee the realm. He also instructs him to send men to Demonai Camp to see if they are telling the truth about Raisa not being there.

2. In the Borderlands

Han's POV

Han and Dancer cross into Delphi, and run into Fiona Bayar and Wil Mathis. Han's identity as Cuffs Alister is revealed, partly by his doing. Han then casts a spell without meaning to, and the two flee, managing to escape their pursuers.

3. In the Autumn Damps

Raisa's POV

Raisa, Amon, and the Wolfpack have left Demonai Camp. While camping Raisa and Amon kiss during his sticking practice. They are attacked the Sloat and the other men Mac Gillen sent, who were on their way to Demonai Camp. They are saved by Reid Nightwalker and Night Bird, along with other Demonai warriors, who were following them.

4. Delphi

Han's POV

Han and Dancer arrive in Delphi. After getting into trouble while gambling at a bar, they are saved by Cat. Jemson had sent her to the Temple school at Oden's Ford, but she is afraid to go, deciding to follow Han, who she believes is still in the street life. She leaves when they insist they are also going to Oden's Ford.

5. Into the Fens

Raisa's POV

Her, Amon, and the Wolfpack manage to sneak through Wesgate, and enter the Shivering Fens. They are taken hostage by the Waterwalkers, surviving due to Amon's good influence with their leader. Raisa is appraised of the destruction her soldiers have brought on them. Raisa convinces Lord Dimitri to set them free, though she owes them gylden. She subtly reveals her identity to them, and promises that she will right the wrongs done to their people.

6. Flatland Demons

Han's POV

Han and Dance travel through war-torn Arden until they are captured by Marin Karn, who hopes to conscript them into the miliary because they are wizards. While captured, they meet Gerard Montaigne and Father Fossnaught. Karn tries to get Han to remove the hex on the Waterlow amulet, and while Han tricks him into letting him touch it, Cat appears, strangling Montaigne. Cat helps them as they all fight their way free. In the commotion, Dancer looses his amulet. Cat decides to go with them to Oden's Ford, and Han gives Dancer his Lone Hunter amulet, using the Waterlow amulet for himself.

8. Oden's Ford

Raisa's POV

Raisa, Amon, and the Wolfpack arrive at Oden's Ford. Raisa and Amon meet the headmaster of Wien House, where Raisa must convince him to allow her the special privileges Amon created for her. After an argument, Raisa convinces him to approve her curriculum and housing.

9. The Road West

Han's POV

Han, Dancer, and Cat are traveling to Oden's Ford along The West Road.

10. Cadet

Raisa's POV

Raisa begins classes and her difficult training. She learns more about her fellow cadets. During a class taught by Master Askell, Raisa finds her classmates to be greatly misinformed and prejudiced against the Clans and the Fells.

11. Mystwerk House

Han's POV

Han and Dancer settle into their dormitory, then help Cat settle into her room at the Temple School. Han has his seventeenth name day, during his celebration with Dancer and Cat at a local tavern, they run into Micah. Han and Micah get into a fight, which is broken up by the Provost.

12. Raised From the Dead

Raisa's POV

Raisa tells Amon that she thought she saw Han when they first arrived.

13. Charmcasting for Beginners

Han's POV

Han and Dancer attend their first class, taught by Adam Gryphon. Fiona and Micah are also in the class. The class portals to Aediion, and Han meets Crow, who offers to tutor him as they are both enemies of the Bayars. As Han spent much more time in Aediion than the rest, he is left drained of magic and Dean Abelard appears to check on him. Gryphon and Abelard question him and Dancer on what transpired in Aediion.

14. Dean's Dinner

Han's POV

15. Friends and Enemies

Raisa's POV

16. A Meeting With the Dean

Han's POV

17. In Mystwerk Tower

Han's POV

18. Abelard's Crew

Han's POV

19. Caught in the Act

Raisa's POV

20. Star-Crossed

Raisa's POV

21. A Vermin Problem

Han's POV

22. The Waking Dream

Han's POV

23. A Meeting of Exiles

Raisa's POV

24. News From Home

Raisa's POV

25. Blueblood Ways

Han's POV

26. Dangerous Dancing

Raisa's POV

27. When Dreams Turn to Nightmares

Han's POV

28. Word From Home

Raisa's POV

29. A Babe in the Woods

Han's POV

30. This Rough Magic

Raisa's POV

31. Betrayal

Han's POV

32. Shifting Alliances

Han's POV

33. Matrimony or Murder

Raisa's POV

34. Shoulder Taps

Han's POV

35. Old Friends

Han's POV

36. Detours

Raisa's POV

Raisa, Wil, Micah, and Fiona are heading north when they are ambushed by Commander Karn, as Gerard's forces are advancing on Tamron Court. Karn attempts to conscript the mages, while Micah pretends Raisa is their servant, asking for her release. Gerard Montaigne is among them and kills Wil, he also recognizes Raisa. Raisa manages to escape on Fiona's horse when Tamron soldiers attack.

37. A Parting of the Ways