L. L. Stephens Libri

Long live the king... if only they can find him. The Kheld King, Stefan Stauberg-Randolph, is dead. He leaves behind a land in chaos. His brother Handurin is rightful heir to once-mighty Essera... only Handurin is missing. Safely ensconced in another reality, he doesn't remember who he is, or why he was sent away, until the day an immortal wizard named Marenthro shows up on his doorstep. Handurin isn't too happy about having his world turned upside down. But he's even less thrilled about Marenthro's plans for his safe return to Essera-namely by seeking the protection of the one man who was Stefan's most hated enemy: Dorilian Sordaneon.

The King is dead. Long live THE KHELD KING The Triempery lies crippled, its godborn princes slaughtered by treachery, its ruling houses desperate to maintain their monopoly of the god-machine Entities. In the aftermath of the slaughter, Stefan Stauberg-Randolph inherits his grandfather's throne. Already an outsider because of his Kheld heritage, Stefan sees enemies around every corner--but he particularly fears Dorilian Sordaneon, sole surviving heir of the Rill Entity's power. Set upon conflicting paths by betrayal and suspicion, the animosity between the two young rulers could well threaten not only the Triempery's remaining houses, but the Entities themselves.