The River Kings' Road

""But you're a knight."

"What of it? Any oaths I swore to Galefrid died when he did".

Odosse and Brys, the River King's Road"

The first novel by Liane Merciel in the fictional world of Itheles. The book is set in two rivaling adjacent kingdoms of Oakharne and Langmyr, once part of the same empire.

Leferic, second son of Lord Ossaric has his brother (the warmongering Galefrid) killed, hiring a Thorn out of Ang'arta to do the deed. She does this by completely purging the town of Willowfield. Unfortunately for him, Galefrid's son survives the assassination attempt, leading to a bargain he does not want to make. Meanwhile, a Knight of Celestia (Kelland) and his companion (Bitharn) are tasked with finding out who exactly was behind the carnage.

This book contains examples the following Tropes.
Albric has no such illusions.]]
 * Action Girl: Bitharn, though she straddles the line between Faux Action Girl. She does win an archery tournament.
 * The Archer: Bitharn
 * Complete Monster: Severine, Dear Lord, Severine. Wipes out everyone in Willowfield (almost). Kills people so she can torture their souls for information. Worships Pain.
 * Everybody's Dead, Dave: Brys to Odosse, on why she can't go back to Willowfield.
 * I Did What I Had to Do: Brys, Leferic, and Albric claim this in some form or another.
 * I Shall Taunt You: Severine, to Kelland. He doesn't take it well.
 * Knight in Shining Armor: Kelland. At least, everyone thinks of him as one. He thinks of himself as untested.
 * Knight in Sour Armor: Brys. He may have been knighted by Galefrid, but Galefrid is dead. He still finds himself protecting Odosse and Wistan.
 * Moral Event Horizon: Leferic attempts to convince himself he hasn't crossed it, in hiring the Thorn. [[spoiler:
 * The Plan: Leferic gets a neat one at the end.
 * The Woobie: Odosse has had a rough week. Her village has been extinguished, she's been handed a baby that isn't hers, and she's currently in a town that would kill her for her accent. She doesn't break down.