The King was frantic. His most trusted advisor was dead, and the best replacement had run away. Why did this always happen to his kingdom? If only he hadn't sent Zane out on that last "ambassadorial" trip…. Oh, hell, who was he kidding? Zane Blackhart was a paid assassin and rogue capable of anything and everything he was needed for. Noble by birth, Zane learned his rogue skills as a young boy when he ran away from home. Reunited with his highborn family later, he began to move his way up through the social ladder until he was indispensable to the King. His advice was always excellent, and his skills were unbelievable. Zane's home life was to be envied by all, as well. He had a beautiful sorceress for a wife, talented in all ways of magic, although she would only use her powers for healing and common household tasks. It was a wonder that Eliza had no idea that her husband was a rogue, even though Zane made no attempt to hide it from his wife.
Eliza had given him four children. Chrissa, the eldest, was a beautiful woman, and it was almost impossible to tell that her father was an adventurer/ rogue. She was stately, polished, the perfect lady, happily married to a young nobleman. Zane's eldest son, David, was a capable Lord, trained to assume his father's place as the head of the family. However, David was not quite the man his father had been, lacking the innate skills Zane possessed. His most blatant lack was compassion. He saw no other way to rule than by brute force and would compel rather than coax in any situation. It was a great failing, one that disappointed Zane greatly. David also thought his father was a scoundrel, even though the King himself approved of him, and couldn't wait until he could clean up his family's name honorably. David was a member of the militia, but had never risen above the lower ranks. Mikhail, the third child, having realized that he had very little chance to get any power through his inheritance, and due to his brother's tyranny, had entered a monastery when he was 16, and had devoted his life to the teachings of a god. It had hurt him to leave, because he was very close to his parents and younger sister. However, he felt he had no choice, and his parents had supported him in his decision, with the knowledge that he was always welcome back. Being away from home, Mikhail had no idea what his father's position entailed, and Zane was content to keep it that way.
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