The contents of that envelope would doubtless herald the next tyrant who thought he could take that future for himself.

I looked over at Ethalia, still dancing with Kest, then at Brasti and Darri, at all of them, and finally back to the letter on the tray.

You want our country? I thought. Then you'd better bring more than just Gods and armies with you.

My foot slipped and I felt myself losing my balance, tumbling back onto the stones of Castle Aramor's ramparts. Valiana and Aline rushed over and knelt by me. Someone said something, but I couldn't hear what it was over the music. Then Nehra stopped playing and a moment later all of them were standing around me. I looked up and saw the people I loved best in the world, ringed by more stars in the sky than there are devils upon the earth. I tried to speak, but it came out as laughter.

'What did he say?' Aline asked.

Ethalia leaned over and put a hand on my cheek. 'I think he said, "The Greatcoats are here".'

THE END.

The story of Falcio, Kest, Brasti and the Greatcoats continues in Tyrant's Throne.

Acknowledgements.

The Author's Lament.

My eminent editor and publisher, Jo Fletcher, insists that at no time did she promise me that the third book in a series would be easier to write than the second. Well, gentle reader, who are you going to believe? The woman who helped bring you books from giants of the field such as Ursula K. Le Guin and Terry Pratchett and who now brings you new stars such as Naomi Foyle, Snorri Kristjansson and Sue Tingey? Or will you instead put your faith in an author whose own narrator's memories of the past are sometimes suspect? Wait . . . don't answer that.

Making this my favourite book of the series was hard going. Fortunately, when the going gets tough, I turn to . . .

The Saints.

Supernatural intervention sometimes requires the spilling of a lot of Saints' blood:.

Christina de Castell-who-reads-and-reads-and-reads, Saint of Literary Tolerance.

Jo Fletcher-yes-that-jo-fletcher-even-though-she-lies-about-books-getting-easier-to-write, Saint of Editing.

Kim Tough-who-knows-Tristia-better-than-I-do, Saint of Emergency Skype Calls.

Eric Torin-who-sees-what-isn't-written, Saint of Narrative Philosophy Heather Adams-who-keeps-writers-employed, Saint of Agents.

The Inquisitors.

Relentless, fearless, and happy to torture the truth out of authors and their stories:.

Wil Arndt (@warndt).

Brad Dehnert (@BradDehnert).

Sarah Figueroa.

Kat Zeller.

Jim Hull (www.narrativefirst.com).

The Inlaudati:.

Some people help make books successful in secret, working their magic upon an unsuspecting world: Nathaniel Marunas, who went further than any publisher should ever have to in order to get the right cover for the US edition Nicola Budd, who remembers the things everyone else forgets.

Andrew Turner, whose tweeting we all miss.

Olivia Mead, who's getting the Greatcoats back on the road Patrick Carpenter, with whose covers we'd never know what to pick off the shelf Dave Murphy and Ron Beard, the sales kings Frances Doyle, the ebook queen.

The Bardatti:.

I've said it before, I'll say it again: the heroes of the publishing world in the 21st century are the bloggers, booksellers, librarians, readers and sometimes even fellow authors who go out of their way to share books they've discovered with the world. They're also the people who make being an author fun. Here are just a few of the wonderful folks I got to interact with this year: Mieneke van der Salm of www.afantasticallibrarian.com who is a delightful dinner companion and kindly pretended my Dutch wasn't awful.

Walter & Jill of White Dwarf Books who are relentlessly supportive of fantasy and sci-fi authors.

Cindy of draumrkopablog.wordpress.com who I got to meet at Nine Worlds in her dazzling steampunk outfit.

Conn Iggulden, who reminded me to let the characters decide where the story goes.

David and the fine crew of Goldsboro Books who put out lovely first editions of the series.

Margo-Lea Hurwicz, who writes some fine Greatcoats poetry.

Robin Carter of parmenionbooks.wordpress.com, who really deserves a greatcoat.

Wendell Adams of bookwraiths.com who probably also deserves a greatcoat at this point!

John Gwynne, who is incredibly gracious and has the nicest family on the planet.

Sam Sykes, who says nicer things about the Greatcoats books than I do.

Bob Milne of beauty-in-ruins.blogspot.com who wrote one of my favourite reviews ofKnight's Shadow this year.

Eon (Windrunner) who drove out to Capetown so we could have coffee and chat about books.

Annika Thomaen of lesekatzen.blogspot.de who is my only means of knowing if the German editions of my books are good!

Nazia Khatun, who randomly runs up to strangers and tells them to read my books.

And, of course, to all you kind readers who take the time to write me emails with thoughts, questions and comments about the Greatcoats. Reading your emails is one of the highlights of my day.

With gratitude, web: www.decastell.com.

The Hague, Netherlands.

January, 2016.

Bonus Content.

P.S. Anyone who takes the time to read a book's acknowledgments deserves to know some of its unwritten secrets.

In one of the inside pockets of Tommer's greatcoat, his father, Duke Jillard, found a carefully folded letter.

Aline, You may be wondering why I've just handed you this letter, written years ago when I was just a foolish boy of twelve. As you read it, imagine me as I was then: not yet a man, small of stature (though I hope I've grown taller by now) and lacking in accomplishments (though that, too, I hope to have rectified these past years.) Think back on that boy who chased after you (subtly, I hope), and always sought to be by your side, sword in hand. Understand that he knew full well how silly he looked. He knew he was as much encumbrance as protector in those early days. He knew he had no chance to win your heart.

If you are reading this now, it is because I am once again standing before you, no doubt with a long line of suitors waiting impatiently for me to step aside. These will be good men, I am sure, each with virtues and qualities that outshine my own: Lords, Margraves, Dukes, doubtless even foreign Princes will have come seeking your hand. I picture them holding gifts for you: the finest jewellery, the greatest works of art, chests upon chests upon chests of gold and silver. This will be their one mistake, and my one chance. I will bring no jewels, no money and no title, for I intend to renounce my father's Ducal throne.

When I stand before you, Aline, it will be holding only this letter. When you read it, you will know that I loved you even before I was a man, and that you were my Queen even before you wore a crown. You will know that I have spent every day since I first met you trying to become a man worthy of your esteem, and if after finishing this letter you look up at me and smile, it will all have been worth it.

Your.

Tommer.

Duke Jillard read the letter three times before sending it to the flames of his hearth fire.

About the Author.

SEBASTIEN DE CASTELL had just finished a degree in Archaeology when he started work on his first dig. Four hours later he realized how much he hated archaeology and left to pursue a very focused career as a musician, ombudsman, interaction designer, fight choreographer, teacher, project manager, actor, and product strategist. He lives in Vancouver, Canada, with his wife.

You can visit him at www.decastell.com.

Also by Sebastien de Castell.

Traitor's Blade.

Knight's Shadow.