The Painter Knight — Fiona Patton

THE PASSING OF THE FLAME

Simon, the Court Painter of Branion, was the closest friend of the kingdom's ruler, Aristok Marsellus the Third. And though Marsellus was the vessel of the Living Flame, able to call upon the power of his god at need, while Simon was a follower of the opposing Essusiate religion, still it was the painter, not Marsellus' own priests and guards, who was the Aristok's staunchest ally and defender.

Yet not even Simon could protect Marsellus from unexpected treachery within the Branion court. But when an assassin's blade put a sudden end to Marsellus' reign, it was Simon who--at the dictate of both his own god and his friend's specter--became the champion and rescuer of the new Aristok, Marsellus' five-year-old daughter Kassandra.

With civil and religious war threatening the suddenly leaderless realm, and Kassandra herself fighting to survive becoming the new vessel of the Living Flame, Simon had no choice but to flee Branion with the child. Pursued by the very forces which should have been the new ruler's protectors, Simon and a most unlikely band of companions had to keep both the child and her powers hidden while they made a desperate bid to reach the one person who could offer the uncrowned Aristok both sanctuary and a chance, however desperate, of regaining her kingdom and bringing her father's slayers to justice.