The King’s Spies, Book 2

Medieval Fantasy Romance

Scoundrel of Claymore Keep

He was framed for murder. She refuses to back down. Together, they’ll uncover a conspiracy that threatens to destroy everything.

THE SCOUNDREL

Kurtz Chazir isn’t looking for redemption—he’s hunting for revenge.

Thirteen years in prison for a crime he didn’t commit taught him three things: trust no one, question everything, and never forgive the woman who destroyed his life. Now free and working as one of the king’s spies, Kurtz has a chance to track down Careeanne Nariel, the seductress who framed him for King Axel’s assassination.

But first, he must lead a team into Barth, a city shrouded in supernatural darkness where magic and conspiracy intertwine.

His mission: find a missing land warden and expose a trafficking ring selling innocent women. The catch? He has to do it while pretending to be a singing minstrel.

Kurtz may be many things, but a performer isn’t one of them.

THE WARRIOR

Zanna tan Quelle doesn’t take orders well—especially from arrogant former prisoners.

A half-giant soldier with more combat experience than patience, Zanna is assigned to Kurtz’s team to provide protection. What she gets instead is endless bickering, impossible decisions, and a man who thinks he knows everything.

He’s stubborn. Reckless. Infuriating.

And somehow, he’s the only person who sees past her warrior’s exterior to the woman beneath.

When their undercover mission goes sideways and ancient blood magic resurfaces, Zanna finds herself fighting battles on two fronts: against the black knights closing in, and against the unwanted feelings stirring in her heart.

THE CONSPIRACY

Duke Falkson’s fortress holds dark secrets—human trafficking, demonic altars, and a thirteen-year-old murder conspiracy.

As Kurtz and Zanna infiltrate the nobility’s inner circle, they discover the truth runs deeper than either imagined. The black knights aren’t just soldiers—they’re part of a network stretching across the kingdom. The missing women aren’t lost—they’re enslaved. And the darkness covering Barth isn’t natural—it’s powered by blood sacrifice.

When Zanna is captured inside Claymore Keep and Kurtz must choose between his quest for vengeance and saving the woman who’s become everything he never knew he needed, he’ll learn that some battles aren’t won with swords.

They’re won on your knees.

Releasing June, 2026 in Ebook, Paperback, and Audiobook.

About the Author

Jill Williamson is an award-winning fantasy and science fiction author of over two dozen books including the Blood of Kings trilogy, which won two Christy Awards, an Epic Award, and received two Best Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror listings in VOYA magazine.

Jill writes fantastical adventure stories for all ages. A storyworld first novelist, she takes a tiny gem of an idea and turns it into a full world with maps, history, and complex cultures. She infuses purpose and hope into her stories and is known for writing realistic characters who embark upon epic adventures of survival and self-discovery.

Jill has also penned several books on the craft of writing fiction. She teaches at writers’ conferences and blogs regularly at www.goteenwriters.com, one of Writer’s Digest’s “101 Best Websites for Writers.” Jill lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and two children. To learn more about her novels, visit her at www.jillwilliamson.com.

The King’s Spies

Book 1

Book 2

Book 3