Half a King

The novel is set in a fantasy world of rival kingdoms where a religious order called the Ministry advises each ruler and the ruins of a lost civilization known as the elves dot the landscape.

Yarvi, the second son of King Uthrik of Gettland, is born with a withered left hand possessing only a thumb and a single stunted finger. Unfit for warrior culture, he trains under Mother Gundring, the kingdom's minister, to join the Ministry. On a stormy night, Yarvi's uncle Odem arrives and kneels before him, declaring him king. Yarvi's father and older brother have been killed, ambushed on their way to a peace parley near the border town of Amwend. Yarvi's mother, Laithlin, known as the Golden Queen for her financial brilliance, blames the Vanstermen, a rival people. The Black Chair, Gettland's ancient elf-forged throne, now falls to Yarvi.

Laithlin demands immediate vengeance, insisting Yarvi lead a retaliatory raid and marry his cousin Isriun, Odem's daughter. Odem promises to serve as Yarvi's shoulder-man, his closest protector and companion. Before sailing, Yarvi swears a public oath of vengeance before the gods, binding himself irrevocably.

The raid targets Amwend. Atop the holdfast tower, Odem reveals his treachery: He stabs a bound prisoner and fabricates a story that this man killed Yarvi. When a young warrior draws his sword to defend Yarvi, Hurik, Laithlin's personal bodyguard, slits the man's throat, exposing his secret loyalty to Odem. As Hurik grabs Yarvi's cloak, the golden buckle springs open, and Yarvi tumbles into the sea.

Yarvi survives and is captured by Vansterman warriors who bring him before Grom-gil-Gorm, King of the Vanstermen. Yarvi lies, claiming to be a cook's boy. Mother Scaer, Gorm's minister, urges his death, but Gorm sells him into slavery instead. Yarvi is purchased for a trading galley called the South Wind, captained by Ebdel Aric Shadikshirram, a flamboyant woman who rules through charisma and cruelty. He is chained to an oar between Jaud, a calm former baker, and Rulf, a sour former raider. Also aboard are Nothing, a wretched deck-scrubber in heavy chains who once killed three guards in an escape attempt, and Sumael, a skilled navigator.

When the South Wind passes Thorlby, Gettland's capital, Yarvi resolves to escape and reclaim his throne. He discovers that Ankran, a slave serving as storekeeper, and Trigg, the brutal overseer, have been cheating the captain. He reports their theft to Shadikshirram in her own language, earning a promotion to storekeeper. He also learns that Sumael has copied the key to the slaves' locks. They plan to combine her key with his knowledge of plants to drug the guards and escape.

Their plan unravels when Trigg tries to murder Yarvi in the far north. Nothing trips Trigg with his chain, and Sumael frees Jaud and Rulf. Yarvi breaks open the hull, sinking the ship. Nothing seizes a sword and kills multiple guards, including Trigg. Many chained oarslaves drown as the South Wind goes down.

Six survivors regroup on the frozen shore: Yarvi, Sumael, Rulf, Jaud, Ankran, and Nothing. They trek west toward Gettland through brutal cold, nearly starving before a farmwoman trades them supplies for their iron chains. During the journey, Yarvi reveals his true identity. Nothing immediately swears to restore him to the Black Chair. Shadikshirram and her allies pursue them through a volcanic landscape. The group fortifies an ancient elf-ruin for a last stand. When Shadikshirram corners Yarvi, Ankran charges to help but she runs him through. Yarvi stabs her repeatedly, killing her. Ankran dies from his wound.

Vansterman warriors capture the group and bring them before Grom-gil-Gorm. Yarvi reveals his identity, which Mother Scaer verifies by testing his knowledge of ministerial secrets. He proposes a deal: if Gorm helps him retake the Black Chair, Yarvi will kneel as Gorm's vassal. Gorm agrees, and Yarvi's group enters Thorlby in disguise. Reunited with Laithlin, Yarvi reveals Odem's treachery. Together they plan the coup: Gorm will march south as bait, luring Odem's warriors out of the citadel. Laithlin's mercenaries will enter through secret tunnels Yarvi knows from childhood. Yarvi and Nothing will drop the Screaming Gate, a massive copper barrier, to seal the entrance and trap Odem inside.

The plan works. As Odem marches out, Laithlin delays him on the steps of the Godshall, Gettland's ceremonial hall, buying time. Yarvi signals Jaud to release the gate, which crashes down, trapping Odem with a skeleton force. In the fighting, Hurik kills Jaud. Laithlin puts a knife to Hurik's throat; he confesses that the High King, a supreme ruler over the kingdoms, decreed Yarvi's death, and that his oath bound him only to protect Laithlin, not her son. She cuts his throat.

Yarvi and Nothing burst into the Godshall. Nothing removes his helmet, and Mother Gundring identifies him as Uthil, Yarvi's eldest uncle, a legendary swordsman presumed drowned twenty years earlier. Uthil reveals that his brothers Uthrik and Odem threw him into the sea to steal his birthright; he survived years of enslavement before becoming the deck-scrubber "Nothing." Uthil and Odem duel. When Odem feigns surrender but reaches for a hidden dagger, Yarvi drives his sword through Odem's chest, fulfilling his oath. Uthil declares the Black Chair his by first birth. Yarvi, recognizing he never truly wanted the throne, kneels before Uthil.

Grom-gil-Gorm arrives expecting vassalage but finds Uthil on the throne. Uthil challenges Gorm to single combat; Gorm declines and withdraws. Uthil blames Yarvi for inviting enemies onto Gettland's soil, and the penalty is death or exile. Yarvi proposes instead to renounce all claim to the throne and join the Ministry. Laithlin kneels before Uthil, begging for her son's life and offering to fulfill their old betrothal, made before Uthil's disappearance. Uthil agrees, marrying Laithlin and pardoning Yarvi.

Yarvi frees Ankran's wife and son from a flesh-dealer, forcing the man to relocate to Vulsgard to spy on Gorm. Sumael departs with Jaud's ashes, and Rulf stays at Yarvi's side. On a rain-swept rooftop, Isriun swears the same oath of vengeance against her father's killers that Yarvi once swore.

Yarvi passes the Minister's Test at Skekenhouse, the seat of the Ministry, becoming Father Yarvi. Returning to Thorlby, he brings Mother Gundring her evening tea laced with black-tongue root, the deadly poison she taught him in their first lesson. He reveals the full conspiracy: the High King and Grandmother Wexen, the First of Ministers and head of the order, threatened by Laithlin's economic power, ordered Uthrik killed and sent the command to Gundring herself. His proof is that Mother Scaer, whom Gundring blamed for luring Uthrik to the parley with a dove message, uses only crows. Gundring does not deny the accusation. As the poison takes effect, she tells Yarvi he will make a fine minister. He closes her eyes, takes up her elf-metal staff, and rises to answer King Uthil's summons.