The Frontier Warden

For ten years, Kaelen Draeven held the black frontier alone, feeding his men and driving the demon lord back into the Rift. The empire named him the Iron Wall Warden, then dismissed him as a fraud and dissolved his betrothal to the empress in the same breath. He returned the sword, the seal and his master's twelve warding stones; the Rift opened and three cities fell. With ledger, muster roll and formation he takes it all back, while the empress uncrowns herself to copy the names.