A lone man who carries the name of the Empire's ultimate shame and anonymity, 'John Smith'. Stripped of everything from his past, cast out and stumbling through the world he sees everything he grew up believing with new eyes. The harsh realities of his world nip at his flanks and heels every day of his new life, while memories and painful traumas of his old life plague his days and even nights.The true price and cause of his silent suffering and banishment are a secret he refuses to speak. The intrigue that precipitated his fall still lurks in the shadows of the Empire waiting for its prey. The plot he deflected, thinking he defeated, is only delayed and is slowly closing again.Suddenly he is thrust back into the shadowed and deadly game he thought he was insulated from and had left behind forever.(The complete first book)(The Guardsman: Book 1: Honor of the Fallen: 95,000 words)