The drums of war threaten the ringing hammers of construction…Hornblood Castle, nestled at the divergence of two rivers at the northern border of Chathem, is intended to be a bastion for the kingdom, but the war-friendly Belmarch neighbors wouldn't look kindly on such an obstacle being put in their path. Begun in secret, completion of the castle is critical to keep the Belmarch at bay.Sam Freeman hides from his past, working to atone for the sins of his youth. He finds solace in a simple life, and pleasure in building. But when friend and foe alike threaten his newfound life he must choose between the man he was and the man he wishes he could be.But when the son of Archduke Hornblood, Evan, arrives, his life becomes even more complicated. Chased by the demons of his own youthful indiscretion Sam tries to stop the young Duke from tearing himself apart. He sees glimmers of greatness inside him, should he choose to change his ways.Now that the threat has arrived, the castle builders become defenders. Faced with bitter cold, impossible building conditions, and the threat of starvation, they fight not only for their own lives, but the lives of an unsuspecting nation.