I had a lot of fun writing Gratton: one of the king’s most trusted guardsmen.

Gratton is originally from Partsvale up north. He has older brothers, most of whom also joined the army before him.

Gratton had just become a soldier before Zalski Forzythe executed his coup against the royal family before The Crimson League: The Fight for Hope. He enlisted to run away from troubles at home. (His past is a bit checkered). He stayed in the ranks and supported the resistance when able, but he was so young at the time that he never advanced to a useful post before Zalski’s fall.

Gratton is rough around the edges, and while he’s under forty at the time of The Magic Council, he’s prematurely gray. A soldier’s soldier, he is focused on his career, and the king keeps him very busy –especially after the princes go missing.

Gratton has never married. I envision him as one of those people who are professionally competent and capable, but tend to mangle their personal lives a bit–one of those whose good personal intentions never seem to really pan out, and whose little mistakes tend to come back to bite them.

He’s an expert swordsman, and a realist when it comes to pursuing a military objective.

Both his personal and professional life take some unexpected turns throughout the course of The Magic Council: The Fight for Home. I love his arc, and I think it’s rather beautiful.

Book two of the Herezoth trilogy is available now from Amazon.