Arslan is the teenaged prince of the ancient kingdom of Pars who doesn't seem to have what it takes to be a great ruler like his father, Andragoras III. A fateful encounter with a slave from the neighboring country of Lusitania leads Arslan to question the world outside of the royal capital's walls but before he can indulge his curiosity, war breaks out. Arslan is rushed off to his first war, only to see his kingdom crumble in front of his eyes. This series of events leads the young Arslan on a journey to reclaim his lost kingdom. BLOOD TIES Prince Arslan and his allies have reached the citadel of Peshawar, but even among fellow Parsians, they can't rest easy. In the midst of war, rumblings of King Andragoras' dark past have resurfaced, bringing even Arslan's right to the throne in question. The prince and his friends have counted on loyalty to Pars, but with doubt over the rightful succession, does that loyalty stillinclude Arslan? He must confront who he is-and what his enemies really want-in a showdown with Hilmes. Meanwhile, another conflict over a throne in the Southern kingdom of Sidhura draws Arslan's group into a fight between brothers. Will they be pulled further into war, or can they leverage this new development in their favor?