Blood Oath Of The Iron Mask King

Serion and Kaelo pledge their love at a border stargazer's tower. Then Serion's father, King Telamon, invades Volantia and forces Serion to stab Kaelo. Serion deliberately misaims. "Forgive me, Kaelo. It is the only way I can save you now." Serion is branded for treason and condemned to servitude.

Ten years later, Kaelo returns for vengeance. He kills Telamon and takes Serion as his personal captive. He tells Serion to call him master. Kaelo wants Serion to live painfully, trampled under him.

Kaelo keeps Serion close and has a medic treat his wounds. He sees the brand of a Lyssarion traitorous slave on Serion, then orders shadow guards to the ruins of the Messerian Royal Palace to find Telamon's hidden archive chamber. Irena, commander of the Royal Guard, sends Serion to the black stone mine for a blood ruby. Serion brings it back, and Kaelo dismisses it as trash. Serion realizes Kaelo never needed the ruby and only wanted to see him humiliated. Kaelo has a medic bandage his hands.

At the victory banquet, Kaelo presents Serion as his captive. An Amphictyony envoy mocks him. Kaelo cuts off the envoy's arm and declares Serion is his trophy. The senate demands Serion's execution to appease the Amphictyony. Kaelo refuses. Irena warns of civil war. Kaelo sentences Serion to the chaos pit. If Serion survives, his life belongs completely to Kaelo.

Serion survives, using a method Kaelo taught him. Kaelo declares Serion's life belongs to him. When Leontus reports captured moles who tried to rescue Serion, Kaelo accuses Serion of caring more about them than about him.

Later, Serion takes a blade for Kaelo, and Kaelo learns the truth. They crush a rebellion together and rule as equal kings side by side.