A Lovely Mess: Book One of the Heart of Ilseador

King Damien needs to reclaim the last Lost Province - after checking on the well-being of the one he took back from the evil sorceress and the one he is Bound to as Duke-Consort. Not to mention sorting out the unusual relationship he has with his Heir, Jason, and with his Champion, Adam Loveress.**********King Damien is stronger than he has ever been before after his unwilling sojourn in the Keep of Azella the Unpitying.He is also more broken than ever before.If he cannot discover the true source of the magick of Ilseador - to which he lays claim as its Bound King - he may never truly Heal.Sir Adam Loveress is the King's Champion - and the newly wedded husband of the Crown Prince. He is also Damien's best friend, former mentor, and the possessor of his own mysterious magicks. He saved Damien once before.He may be the only one who can do it again:Not because of his magick... but because of Love.********This epic fantasy explores the complex interactions of Magick and Philosophy, Means and Ends, and... SCIENCE...Want to start at the beginning? Book One of the Chronicles of Ilseador: The Rebel Duchess is available in print and eBook at all fine online retailers!******** Teaser: Their horses hadn't made it more than a handful of strides off of the bridge over the Sapphire when Adam made an unhappy noise and reined in tightly. "Adam?" Damien inquired with some concern. "What's wrong?"The tall knight looked almost greenish. "Something I ate must really not have agreed with me."Damien reached his Healer's sense out to deal with the problem. Indigestion - or even food poisoning - shouldn't take more than a moment to fix. Though they'd all been eating the same things, and Adam's iron stomach really shouldn't have been the first to react if there were an issue with improper preparation. To the King's surprise, he could detect Adam's nausea, but no cause for it.No, more than just nausea...The tall knight practically slithered out of his saddle, collapsing to his knees practically underneath his horse in the least graceful dismount Damien had ever seen anyone accomplish, let alone his skilled Champion. The King hurriedly hopped off his own tall, roan palfrey to take Adam's abandoned reins and move his Champion's warhorse aside before it accidentally stepped on its rider.Which should be unlikely, but... Adam collapsing to the ground was also unlikely.