Blood Son

Blood Son is a work-in-progress novel by author S.E. Kane. The story follows Prince Bardom L'Ani, who infiltrates the Lekkian Empire as a slave soldier (Shavu) to plot revenge for the destruction of his home and the murder of his family. In his home tradition, a blood son is chosen by his parents to preserve the honor of his house, despite not being the heir to it. Once, this meant participating in duels, representing the family in legal proceedings, and ensuring war guilt was paid. Now, with the title of Blood Son dormant to most, Bardom erupts with fury to find justice for his dead kin, only to realize that earning it will not be so simple. Bardom chooses to go to the furthest lengths of his morality to achieve his goal, even sacrificing his own freedom to rise the ranks of the Lekkian ruling class. It is not enough to kill Jermaine Rontisil, the Great Leader of Stet-Lek; Bardom decides he must tear down all that he's built.

As he ascends from slave to warlord, Bardom finds unlikely comrades, becoming the champion of Lekkain slaves and a quasi-religious figure. He befriends fellow slaves like Yashin and Deckel while serving in Lord Kagarani's army, as they fight their way through whole nations to satisfy the Great Leader's appetite for empire. While playing the game of Lekkian politics, Bardom finds himself pulled in other directions from his main goal. He's compelled to aid his sister-in-law, Adella, who was taken hostage and made a slave by another lord. Bardom's own reputation, now known as the mysterious slave Na'Vanad, earns the attention of the other warlords, as well. With a target on Kagarani's back, Bardom uses the pressure against his master to force his way up the ladder of power. But not all goes according to plan, as he falls in love with the Great Leader's daughter, Princess Laila.

Laila sees her own opportunity with Na'Vanad, seeking to use him to help her own aims. The Great Leader murdered Laila's mother when she was just a girl, and consequently treated Laila as the lowest of his daughters despite being the first. Since the Great Leader had no sons, the question of an heir loomed over the ruler like a cloud. With a succession crisis primed to explode if the Great Leader died, she begins to make her own plans to win over the upstart Na'Vanad and undermine her own father.

At its core, Blood Son tackles the question: Is revenge justice? Bardom finds that the virtue he once held diminishes as he contributes to the cycle of suffering the Great Leader uses, making him question his own goal. As he grows more ruthless and his followers more fiercely loyal, he begins to mirror the Great Leader and his rise to power. With victory in sight, who will win? Bardom, the Great Leader, or perhaps the evil urge to seize power and wield it selfishly.