A Den of Snakes: Prologue

"“The court is a pack of liars playing loyal, and the reality is that they all serve themselves, not the crown to which they are sworn. The court is a den of snakes, and there is no place for honourable men among them.”"

- Veryn Ais to Anton Aines

A master of the Royal Summit, Anton Aines, arrives at the King's Isle to attend a meeting that will determine the next King of Ashdrad, before meeting his end at the hand of a fellow councillor, and schemer of the court.

Synopsis
Aboard The Green Lady, Anton watches as the King's Isle draws closer. He reflects on why he is arriving: to attend a council of the Summit, where the man who will succeed the late King Raelor Vayne will be chosen, as he left no clear heir. After speaking with a fellow councillor, Landon Wells (nicknamed the Sapling) he learns that the other man wishes Ser Tylar Vayne onto the throne, the same as Anton, but both of them suspect the council's support will lie mostly with Lord Daron Daike.

When he arrives on the island, and disembarks the ship, Anton walks through the docks before starting up the mound in the middle of the isle that the Summit will take place on. The council begins shortly, with all the members attending. They discuss the five pretenders and their claims - Ser Tylar Vayne, the king's great-nephew; Lord Daron Daike, Prime of the Northlands whose father was once promised the throne; Joden Drifte, a new claimant from Ashos who might try to invade, and this information was only brought forward by the Sapling; Harden Naisen who is desperate as always; and Lord Russol Riddel, the Lord of Stoneseat and Prime of the Westlands who was King Raelor's ward and hostage, raised by him.

Anton supports Ser Tylar's claim, as he is the only blood-relative of Raelor, but it soon becomes apparent the majority of the council supports Daron Daike, as he has a strong and fearsome reputation, and is most likely to hold off the rest of the realm against invaders. They take a vote, and Daron is indeed elected as the new monarch of Ashdrad, much to Anton's distaste. The Sapling also betrays him, voting for Daron Daike despite telling him he supported Tylar when they were both aboard The Green Lady.

Later, Anton is back on the ship heading home to Windsel, furious about what has happened. He worriedly contemplates the future. After disembarking the ship, he is met by a new guard, Ser Lyam as a suppose to his usual one, Ser Morren. Anton reflects that it is strange, but figures it makes sense after Lyam informs him Morren has caught the Red Rash. They travel back to his chambers, and, alone again, Anton discovers the dead body of Ser Morren.

At first, he puts it down to the red rash, but then realises that the throat is slit, and he immediately starts to worry. But then, the voice of the Crownmaker pierces the silence. He explains that he intends to murder Anton, and will soon discover him and his guard both dead. Veryn plans to frame Ser Tylar Vayne in an attempt to take away his public support, the motive for his supposed murder of Anton being that the Royal Summit chose Daron Daike as the next king, and that Anton is the leader of the council, and Tylar would not know Anton actually supported him.

Anton slowly backs away to the door as Veryn openly explains his plan to frame Ser Tylar. He tells Anton that the scion and his two sisters, Jaime and Jana left the city after hearing Daron was chosen as king, which would automatically look suspicious to the Lord Commander of the Wind Watch. Anton opens the door only to find that Ser Lyam is outside, working for the Crownmaker as an assassin hired to kill him. The man reveals a long knife and forces Anton back into the room.

The Crownmaker delivers a speech about the true, treacherous nature of the court, before giving the assassin the command to kill Anton. The dagger slides beneath his skin, and kills him.