Prologue

I n a time known today as The Anarchy, England was torn between two enemies, each claiming a right to the throne. Some of England's nobles pledged their allegiance to Stephen and declared him king whilst others cast their fate with Empress Matilda, the daughter of Henry I. Such unrest placed most of the country into a state of civil war lasting for almost a score of years. Many knights bore the burden of fighting for either side, each determined to win the land for whomever they served.

Amongst such knights were three brothers and another knight who was the brother of their heart. These four swore their loyalty to fight for the Empress Matilda and her rightful claim to England's crown. The Norwood brothers were close in age. Wymar was the eldest and jumped at the chance to swear his oath of fealty to the Empress, especially after their parents were killed when Stephen laid siege to their home, Brockenhurst Castle. Ousted from the only home they had known six years ago, Wymar plunged his brothers into the middle of war all in the hopes of having the Empress crowned queen. He prayed, in return for his service, she would bestow upon him the return of his lands and his title, and that she would name him her champion knight.

Theobald was next and the peacekeeper amongst them. He was used to following his eldest brother no matter that he would prefer to sit in front of a fire to rest his weary feet with a mug of ale in his hand. Reynard, the youngest, was always attempting to prove his worth even when the odds were stacked against him. He was more like his eldest brother than he would ever admit, even to himself. He had no desire to wed after losing the woman he loved in his youth. And Richard, the brother of their heart, fought beside them all in support of the empress's cause.

The four of them swore to remain together as a family as they had no one else besides each other. But things changed as the war progressed. The first change was when Brockenhurst and Wymar's titles were restored. Wymar had wed, and then Theobald had, as well. Both were now settling into wedded bliss and holding estates in the empress's name. This left Reynard and Richard to continue to follow the empress until they, too, were released from their service.

Every tale has a beginning, a middle and an end for the knights of the Anarchy. This is Reynard's story…