A Kingdom in Arrears

By the time Wren understood that “the throne” was not a metaphor, three separate strangers had tried to kill him, and one had apologized for it afterward.

“You have the Marked Hand,” the apologetic one explained, as if that settled anything. “The kingdom’s ledgers recognize you as heir. That’s never happened to an accountant before.”

Wren looked down at his ink-stained fingers. “I would like to speak to whoever is in charge of undoing this.”

“That would be you, now.”