When the Other appears, Krak Wawelski is 1. His family's city, Krakow, has been a relatively calm island in the sea of warfare that has covered Europa for generations. Between the Winged Hussars, the Trumpets, and Krakow's reputation for being inexplicably resistant to Sparky siege, ordinary people love it and enemies look for softer targets. The Other does not care; things get worse, and Krakow is full to bursting.

He is 3 when the Heterodyne Boys pass through. Things improve, as they tend to where Bill and Barry pass. But his parents grow more worried, enough for him to notice. And the chaos the Other has created has emboldened raiders; the Polar Ice Lords aren't attacking Krakow yet, but they are pushing freelancers ahead of them. One way and another, the city is attacked several times a month.

He is 4 ("Four and a half!") when the Heterodynes disappear and the Other stops attacking. The raiders don't seem to be discouraged. When he is 5, the Polar Ice Lords threaten the city. The Prince and Princess stay to defend the city; their parents and children try to flee in secret.

This only partially works.

His siblings are caught by raiders, who don't care much for random when their salaries are coming from the "new ownership". Krak was the second son, and is traveling with his great-uncle's wife. To the best anyone can later determine, they are the only royals to successfully flee.

The defense does not go well. The Ice Lords give control to one of the hireling companies they used, and no one with authority is left alive. The news reaches his aunt and him in Prussia; they visit a local prince and formally witness that he is Prince-in-Exile and she his regent. They receive other news: Klaus Wulfenbach has re-appeared and is establishing order from Transylvania outward. Krakow is well beyond his current borders, but they travel to his headquarters and request aid and protection. When the new Castle Wulfenbach is launched, Krak is in the first class of students.

When the Other appears, Krak Wawelski is 1. His father's city, Krakow, has been a relatively calm island in the sea of warfare that has covered Europa for generations. Between the Winged Hussars, the Trumpets, and Krakow's reputation for being inexplicably resistant to Sparky siege, ordinary people love it and enemies look for softer targets. The Other does not care; things get worse, and Krakow is full to bursting.

He is 3 when the Heterodyne Boys pass through. Things improve, as they tend to where Bill and Barry pass. But his parents grow more worried, enough for him to notice. And the chaos the Other has created has emboldened raiders; the Polar Ice Lords aren't attacking Krakow yet, but they are pushing freelancers ahead of them. One way and another, the city is attacked several times a month.

He is 4 ("Four and a half!") when the Heterodynes disappear and the Other stops attacking. The raiders don't seem to be discouraged. When he is 5, the Polar Ice Lords threaten the city. The Prince and Princess stay to defend the city; their parents and children try to flee in secret.

This only partially works.

His siblings are caught by raiders, who don't care much for random when their salaries are coming from the "new ownership". Krak was the second son, and is traveling with his great-uncle's wife. To the best anyone can later determine, they are the only royals to successfully flee.

The defense does not go well. The Ice Lords give control to one of the hireling companies they used, and no one with authority is left alive. The news reaches his aunt and him in Prussia; they visit a local prince and formally witness that he is Prince-in-Exile and she his regent. They receive other news: Klaus Wulfenbach has re-appeared and is establishing order from Transylvania outward. Krakow is well beyond his current borders, but they travel to his headquarters and request aid and protection. When the new Castle Wulfenbach is launched, Krak is in the first class of students.

When the Other appears, Krak Wawelski is 1. His father's city, Krakow, has been a relatively calm island in the sea of warfare that has covered Europa for generations. Between the Winged Hussars, the Trumpets, and Krakow's reputation for being inexplicably resistant to Sparky siege, ordinary people love it and enemies look for softer targets. The Other does not care; things get worse, and Krakow is full to bursting.

He is 3 when the Heterodyne Boys pass through. Things improve, as they tend to where Bill and Barry pass. But his parents grow more worried. And the chaos the Other has created has emboldened raiders; the Polar Ice Lords aren't attacking Krakow yet, but they are pushing "foraging" mercenary companies ahead of them. One way and another, the city is attacked several times a month.

He is 4 ("Four and a half!") when the Heterodynes disappear and the Other stops attacking. The raiders don't seem to be discouraged. When he is 5, the Polar Ice Lords threaten the city. The Prince and Princess stay to defend the city; their parents and children try to flee in secret.

This only partially works.

His siblings are caught by raiders, who don't care much for random when their salaries are coming from the "new ownership". Krak was the second son, and is traveling with his great-uncle's wife. To the best anyone can later determine, they are the only royals to successfully flee.

The defense does not go well. The Ice Lords give control to one of the hireling companies they used, and no one with authority is left alive. The news reaches his aunt and him in Prussia; they visit a local prince and formally witness that he is Prince-in-Exile and she his regent. They receive other news: Klaus Wulfenbach has re-appeared and is establishing order from Transylvania outward. Krakow is well beyond his current borders, but they travel to his headquarters and request aid and protection. When the new Castle Wulfenbach is launched, Krak is in the first class of students.

When the Other appears, Krak Wawelski is 1. His father's city, Krakow, has been a relatively calm island in the sea of warfare that has covered Europa for generations. Between the Winged Hussars, the Trumpets, and Krakow's reputation for being inexplicably resistant to Sparky siege, ordinary people love it and enemies look for softer targets. The Other does not care; things get worse, and Krakow is full to bursting.

He is 3 when the Heterodyne Boys pass through. Things improve, as they tend to where Bill and Barry pass. But his parents grow more worried. And the chaos the Other has created has emboldened raiders; the Polar Ice Lords aren't attacking Krakow yet, but they are pushing "foraging" mercenary companies ahead of them. One way and another, the city is attacked several times a month.

He is 4 ("Four and a half!") when the Heterodynes disappear and the Other stops attacking. The raiders don't seem to be discouraged. When he is 5, the Polar Ice Lords threaten the city. The Prince and Princess stay to defend the city; their parents and children try to flee in secret.

This only partially works.

His siblings are caught by raiders, who don't care much for ransom when their salaries are coming from the "new ownership". Krak was the second son, and is traveling with his great-uncle's wife. To the best anyone can later determine, they are the only royals to successfully flee.

The defense does not go well. The Ice Lords give control to one of the hireling companies they used, and no one with authority is left alive. The news reaches his aunt and him in Prussia; they visit a local prince and formally witness that he is Prince-in-Exile and she his regent. They receive other news: Klaus Wulfenbach has re-appeared and is establishing order from Transylvania outward. Krakow is well beyond his current borders, but they travel to his headquarters and request aid and protection. When the new Castle Wulfenbach is launched, Krak is in the first class of students.

When the Other appears, Krak Wawelski is 1. His father's city, Krakow, has been a relatively calm island in the sea of warfare that has covered Europa for generations. Between the Winged Hussars, the Trumpets, and Krakow's reputation for being inexplicably resistant to Sparky siege, ordinary people love it and enemies look for softer targets. The Other does not care; things get worse, and Krakow is full to bursting.

He is 3 when the Heterodyne Boys pass through. Things improve, as they tend to where Bill and Barry pass. But his parents grow more worried. And the chaos the Other has created has emboldened raiders; the Polar Ice Lords aren't attacking Krakow yet, but they are pushing "foraging" mercenary companies ahead of them. One way and another, the city is attacked several times a month.

He is 4 ("Four and a half!") when the Heterodynes disappear and the Other stops attacking. The raiders don't seem to be discouraged. When he is 5, the Polar Ice Lords threaten the city. The Prince and Princess stay to defend the city; their parents and children try to flee in secret.

This only partially works.

His siblings are caught by raiders, who don't care much for ransom when their salaries are coming from the "new ownership". Krak was the second son, and is traveling with his great-uncle's wife. To the best anyone can later determine, they are the only royals to successfully flee.

The defense does not go well. The Ice Lords give control to one of the hireling companies they used, and no one with authority is left alive. The news reaches his aunt and him in Prussia; they visit a local prince and formally witness that he is Prince-in-Exile and she his regent. They receive other news: Klaus Wulfenbach has re-appeared and is establishing order from Transylvania outward. Krakow is well beyond his current borders, but they travel to his headquarters and request aid and protection. When the new Castle Wulfenbach is launched, Krak is in the first class of students.