“I don’t understand,” Anna’s confusion permeated her words.
Gerald intervened, “She’s pledging to serve you, offering to become your knight, your protector.”
Lady Beverly remained kneeling, holding the sword by the grip.
“Why would she do that?” Anna was ignoring the knight before her and speaking to Gerald.
It was Beverly’s turn to answer, “Long have I sought someone worthy to serve, Your Highness.”
“What makes you sure I’m worthy?” she turned back to speak to the knight knelt before her.
Beverly looked Anna in the eye and then turned to look at Gerald. “The fact that Gerald Matheson is here is proof enough for me,” she said in all earnestness. “He has always been a loyal servant of the crown.”
“But I’m not looking for a knight,” professed Anna, “though I’m flattered, of course.”
Beverly, for a brief moment, appeared slightly confused and then her face changed. “Have you not heard the news, Your Highness?
“What news?” Anna seemed to find everything about this knight to be confusing.
“The kingdom has been invaded. An army from Westland crossed the border and a second, from Norland, has attacked Bodden. We’re at war!”
Anna looked at Gerald in alarm, and as their eyes met, they both knew what it meant. He was aware what her choice would be, for she couldn’t let innocent people suffer.
She looked at Gerald, sadness etched on her face. “It is the obligation of the nobility to protect the people,” she said, and he realized that at this exact moment, she had grown into womanhood and accepted her role in society. There would be no escape for them; their destiny was inextricably tied up with the fate of the kingdom they called home.
###
About the Author
PAUL Bennett emerged into this world in Maidstone, Kent, England at the beginning of the 60’s, then immigrated to Southwestern Ontario with his family six years later. In his teen years, Paul discovered military models, leading him to serve in the Canadian Armed Forces. Around the same time, he was introduced to role-playing games in the form of Dungeons & Dragons (D & D). What attracted him to this new hobby was the creativity it required; the need to create realms, worlds and adventures that pull the gamers into his stories.
In his 30’s, Paul started to dabble in creating his own role-playing system, using the Peninsular War in Portugal as his backdrop. His regular gaming group were willing victims, er, participants in helping to play test the new system. A few years later he took his role-playing system and added additional settings; including Science Fiction, Post-Apocalyptic, World War II, and the all-important Fantasy Realm.
The beginnings of Servant to the Crown originated three years ago when he began a new fantasy campaign. For the world of Merceria, he ran his adventures like a TV show; with seasons that each had twelve episodes, and an overarching plot. After the campaign ended, he was inspired to sit down to write his first novel. He knew all the characters, what they had to accomplish, what needed to happen to move the plot along. 124,000 words later, Servant of the Crown was written!
Paul has mapped out a whole series of books in the World of Merceria and is looking forward to sharing them all with his readers over the next few years.
Authors Notes
NO story exists in a vacuum, and it is important for a world like Merceria to feel three dimensional. Though briefly mentioned in the book I had to develop extensive notes on all manner of topics for this series, from military organization to religion to the structure of the nobility.
The characters all have interesting tales to tell. Baron Fitzwilliam is an important figure in this first book, for he shapes Gerald much as Gerald shapes Anna. More will be learned about him in the next book, Sword of the Crown, though the story actually follows Lady Beverly Fitzwilliam. Arnim and Revi also have interesting back stories, just hinted at in the first book. These characters will have more of their past revealed as the story progresses.
Many of these back stories are being collected into a short story collection. These stories will be published as Mercerian Tales and will, chronologically, take place between book 2 and book 3 of the series.
Heir to the Crown is, at its heart, about Anna and the people that shape her life. Her adventures have only just started; the Kingdom has been invaded, and the crown threatened. It is now time for the Sword of the Crown to take centre stage.
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Upcoming Books
Heir to the Crown, Book 2: Sword of the Crown
Beverly’s greatest wish has come true; she’s a knight! Now what?
As the only daughter of the Baron of Bodden, Lady Beverly Fitzwilliam could have lived a life of ease and comfort, but from an early age she had only one burning desire; to serve as a knight. Her hopeless dream becomes a reality when against impossible odds she saves the life of King Andred IV, and he knights her on the battlefield.
It doesn’t take long for Beverly to realize that being a knight is not quite the fantasy she thought it would be. From the capital, Wincaster, to the great city of Shrewesdale, she is faced with obstacles that she must overcome while searching for a noble to swear fealty to.
Just when she has almost given up hope of ever discovering a worthy patron, she arrives at Uxley Hall to meet a mysterious Heir to the Crown, beginning an adventure that takes her from one side of the realm to the other with the fate of the kingdom hanging in the balance.
Follow this unusual knight in an action-packed medieval fantasy adventure that mixes desperate battles, dire prophecies and dangerous enemies in a gripping coming of age story!
Heir to the Crown, Book 3: Heart of the Crown
For hundreds of years the Kingdoms of Merceria and Westland had been at odds with one another. Now, their cultures will clash with the spectre of war hanging in the balance as the tyrant king of Merceria sends an emissary to the court of Westland.
World of Merceria, Book 1: Mercerian Tales
En route to the kingdom of Westland, the emissary of Merceria stops to rest at Bodden Keep. Here, gathered around a roaring fire, each member of the party shares stories of their past.
Visit the author’s website at www.pauljbennettauthor.com for release dates and more information.
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