The King Behind the King

Under a silver‑bright moon, a weary hunter named Fulk stalks the tangled yews of Black Gill, hunting the phantom thieves who have been stealing the Duke’s prized deer. His pursuit leads to a sudden, breath‑tight encounter with a cloaked woman armed with a bow, and the two grapple amid the shadowed trees, each trying to outwit the other. When the struggle ends, the woman—fierce, defiant, and oddly proud—demands her freedom, hinting at a deeper claim over the forest’s game.

Their uneasy truce opens a fragile alliance as both realize the true danger may lie beyond simple poaching. With the upcoming swainmote court looming, they must navigate rival loyalties, hidden motives, and the looming presence of the forest’s master, Roger Ferrers. In this tense, moonlit opening, the stage is set for a clash of wit, honor, and the lingering mystery of who truly reigns over the deer.