Even Stone Yields

A free man robbed of choices is nothing more than a slave without shackles. The Valekyrian Empire gave him a crown of ash and a name of steel for conquering the South. Alric Vaelgard took both and despised the weight of them. When he was sent to Khal-Drathir, two legions followed him with spear, shield, and a fire that would not be quenched. And when he kindled it in obedience to an edict born of shadow, the whole of the city burned to the ground, along with the little he still deemed his own. As he grasped for meaning in what was left behind, only the haft of his spear offered an answer. Peace brought him from broken cities to silken webs, where crimson sashes and iron fetters waited with open palms. Foreign courts extended their hands in invitation as they called him Scourge, their need for stability greater than their fear. There, duty tangled with desire, and Alric found that presence was a battle without manuals. And as he looked upon the ruins that bore his heraldry, perhaps, perhaps it was choice that had led him there. What to expect:- Epic dark fantasy with poetic, liturgical influences- Atmospheric worldbuilding and supernatural dread- A character-driven story concerned with power, agency, memory, complicity, and the consequences of choice- Slow-burn character dynamics built on guilt, loyalty, hatred, desire and restraint- Military conflict, political intrigue, diplomacy, and courtly scheming- A weekly chapter posted every Thursday **If you're enjoying Even Stone Yields, a follow, rating, or review helps the story enormously.** © 2024 Nicholas Zanella. All Rights Reserved.This story is published exclusively on Royal Road. If you are reading this elsewhere, it is a stolen copy.Read the official version at: https://www.royalroad.com/fiction/118830/even-stone-yields