Eleven years before they were framed for the murder of a king, before also assuming the name of Riyria, Royce Melborn and Hadrian Blackwater were practically strangers. Unlikely affiliates, this cynical thief and idealist swordsman, had been just learning how exactly to work together as a group. Within this standalone initial installment of The Riyria Chronicles, Royce is set to teach his naive partner a lesson about great deeds.