<B>He's a gambler womanizer opportunist and inebriate . . . and the kingdom's only chance.</B><br><br><br><br>Greymond the Scattered Kingdom has been without a king for hundreds of years a place ruled by squabbling barons and dukes. Occasionally rumors arise: a king of the old blood has returned to claim his throne. These days such claims are met with groans and eye-rolls. Pretenders abound . . . and are generally ignored.<br><br><br><br>But scheming powers are plotting machinations that have been in the works for years and this time . . .<br><br><br><br><B>Enter Merrik Niles.</B> A thief hired by dangerous people to steal a map he instead keeps it for himself hoping to follow it to some mysterious prize.<br><br><br><br>The treasure turns out to be an ancient artifact connected to Greymond's last king and when Merrik touches it he triggers long-dormant magic. Now three ghosts have taken up permanent residence inside his mind: A cunning smart-mouthed jester. A master swordsman. And a powerful wizard.<br><br><br><br>At first Merrik believes he's going mad but at times these troublesome ghosts lend him their powers . . . for good or for bad.<br><br><br><br>Merrik is swept along in a scheme to put a fair-haired pretender on the throne of Greymond making him the target of powerful enemies across the Scattered Kingdom who prefer the realm as it is.<br><br><br><br>All the while a new army rises across the mountains . . . and they're coming.<br><br><br><br><B>Follow Merrik's exploits as a reluctant hero in the next Epic Fantasy series by Victor Gischler the bestselling author of Ink Mage. It's perfect for readers of Mark Lawrence Brent Weeks and Jay Kristoff.</B>