While the kingdom of Ximerion is threatened at its southern border by a major power, the high king sends his two youngest sons, the half brothers<em> Anaxantis</em> and <em>Ehandar</em>, as Lord Governors to the Northern Marches where minor raids by wild barbarians are expected. Under the guidance of an old and trusted general, the king hopes to keep the young princes far from the major conflict in the south, while at the same time providing them with a valuable learning experience. The estranged half brothers are rivals, but soon they feel attracted to each other. As if this was not enough of a complication, they begin to suspect that they were set up by their own father. The result is a fierce struggle for power where the lines between hate and love become almost indistinguishable and where nothing is what it seems. This <strong>free</strong> book contains the first twelve chapters -- over 60,000 words -- of Bonds of Hate , the first volume in the Dark Tales of Randamor the Recluse series. It is meant to give the reader a good idea of the story, and a better one than just a sample can give, before embarking upon a long series of books. Although it doesn't have an ending as such, it contains what you could call a self-contained story arc.