A young man, once an undeclared keeper of Annalyse's heart or so he had like many others fervently believed and wished were the truth in those days when it still beat with life. He'd never been noticed by many yet his words were spoken from the then Duke's mouth had earned him a living, speech writing and poetry something he had a natural talent for. Yet the words written in secret notes he sent to Annalyse were always signed with a heart and a pen drawn as if applying finishing touches to it, so he hoped she would one day work out who he was..that day never came..

Her death changed Villek, where once he'd seen the world through the eyes of a poet, a romantic, everything became tainted. To have his heart's desire stolen from him forever before he could even savour a moment, to have revenge upon the father denied him though he had pleaded for the Duke to allow him to slay the man himself. Yet the son, a man soon to have the reins of power handed down to him took and harnessed that seething anger, rage inside Villek, the very man that had stolen what was most prescious now offered a position in secrecy with the promise the sister would be his. Only fed knowledge as it suited the Duke, kept on a leash that had him leaping to do his Master's bidding, killing those he was commanded and paid well to but left without the means to discover more himself. Duty born from years sent into the Outlands that had kept him from the grasp of the law after torturing and killing servants of that household, not believing the truth they told him. Yet destiny was a changeable path and the failing of too many meant a different weapon was now brought into the game...