Introduction: Born into privilege but yearning for freedom, Thomas Croft despises the rigid expectations that come with being the son of a High Lord. In the snow-covered stronghold of Seversnow, he finds solace in the rowdy taverns, the warmth of commoners, and the dangerous thrill of Pure, the forbidden drug whispered to be the gods’ own indulgence. But one reckless night leads to a vision—an impossible battlefield, an army at his command, and the sky raining fire. A dream? Or a prophecy of things to come?With his family bound for a royal wedding across the sea, Tom embarks on a journey that will test his loyalty, ambition, and the shadows of his own desires. But beneath courtly feasts and political games, darker forces stir. Old gods forgotten. Wars waiting to be reborn. And a son, unworthy in his father’s eyes, who may soon hold the fate of empires in his hands.In a world of cold steel and burning ambition, will Tom rise… or fall to the madness within?...