K is for King ?????

I don't really see a way around this, so consider this entire post to be a spoiler for the first book of the Chronicles of Meterra. If you plan to read it, don't read this post until you do. If you have read it, then you know who I'm talking about. This post and the next two will be detailing some of the most important characters in all of Meterra, all of whom will be introduced in the first book, Arrival.

Okay, so...Meterra is a kingdom, which means it has a king. It didn't at first; the Ramai natives didn't have a king, just local and tribal leaders. After the Europeans arrived, they became the default government for the entire region, seeing as how they had the military might to defend the land and plenty of nobles who would qualify for a royal office. But only one of them really earned the position.

Eadric, the son of a minor English nobleman, was one of the many younger sons of European nobility who set out on the grand crusade to free the Holy Land. However, Eadric’s natural leadership qualities came to the fore after the Arrival. With the blessing of Bishop Marten, Eadric rallied the knights and the common soldiers together to secure the borders of this new land from the dangerous monsters that roamed the wilderness.

Upon their arrival in the only real city of Meterra, Martefello, Eadric was introduced to the town’s leader, Arturus, and his daughter Ellisabeth. While his military duties did not allow much time for courting, Eadric saw the advantage in allying himself with the respected Arturus, and sought Ellisabeth’s hand in marriage. When the dragon attacked Martefello, Arturus was one of the victims of the attack. With the help of others, Eadric was able to find the dragon's lair, where it was recovering from the wounds it had suffered when it attacked Martefello. After Eadric slew the dragon and his sword was infused with the power of the dragon’s lifeblood, Eadric proclaimed himself King of Meterra with the bishop's blessing, married Ellisabeth and named her Queen, and dubbed the town ‘Everton,’ naming it the capital of the new kingdom.

Eadric is a good man and a strong king. He leaves the day-to-day affairs of the city to the council, and focuses his efforts on protecting the entire kingdom by building up a military force and constructing fortified strongholds. He is a faithful son of the Church, and brooks no religious dissent within the kingdom. Crown Prince Osmund Arturus, his son and heir, spent much of the past year with a mysterious illness that was very nearly fatal. Fortunately, a band of adventurers discovered that he was suffering from an unusual curse inflicted upon him, and were able to cure him. And, in October, Queen Ellisabeth gave birth to Princess Aveline, named after Eadric’s mother.

Eadric has one area of contention with the bishop: Magic. His sword is a testament to the power of magic in Meterra, and while the majority of the Europeans, nobles and peasants alike, distrust and fear magic, he has recognized that it is an important factor in this new land that must be harnessed for the good of the people. He has allies in this, of course; the native population have quite a few hedge wizards among them who have a naturalistic, almost scientific bent to their magic. Eadric doesn't like the magic himself; he trusts his skill at arms more than the powers of sorcery, but he does not condemn it outright. It remains to be seen if his attitude will spread or remain his own.