Lord Kastor of Veluca is initially the claimant to the throne of the Kingdom of Rhodoks. He believes that he is the rightful king of the Rhodoks, as they have no hereditary ruler. Kings are voted in by a council, which meets in a no-man's land where weapons are forbidden. King Graveth sees the matter differently, saying that the election is a farce where the patricians have no thought for the kingdom and vote for whoever gives the best bribes. Graveth however, had spent years with the army, living on salted fish, sleeping on the steppes, and shedding blood in defense of the Rhodok people.