Exiled to the Western Reach Duchy for heresy, Prentice lives the harsh and bitter life of a convict soldier; but his fortunes will rise when two events change everything for the Reach and for the Grand Kingdom as a whole.
The Duke is dead and now Duchess Amelia, his young and inexperienced bride, must rule the Reach alone. When an unknown enemy invades her lands, her knights are too eager for glory to see the danger. The convict Prentice is the only wise voice the Duchess can trust.
So Prentice is thrust into the frontlines, where he must fight to survive not only the violence of the enemy, but the inexperience and foolishness of his own commanders. And from his enemies, Prentice will earn the battle name Ash, for no matter how hot the fire of war burns, even if all burns away, there is always ash. Prentice Ash.