Loyalty

Though many people value loyalty and seek to attract and maintain it in their own lives, some do not have the kind of nature that prompts giving or receiving it. The characters of this novel are no different. Some expect loyalty while they do not give it in return. The novel is loosely based on events that took place in England during the 1400s. During that time in history, loyalty was even more important, with kingdoms and family estates falling as loyalties shifted. In the kingdom of Ceredigion, a ruthless king named Severn touts his motto, “Loyalty binds me.” Severn, however, turns his back on those who have faithfully served him whenever it suits him and uses nefarious tactics in an effort to force others to behave with loyalty.

One of Severn's ploys is to use children as pawns to ensure their parents are loyal. For...