Royal Blood (novel)

Royal Blood is one of three Twelfth Doctor novels in the series The Glamour Chronicles published in September 2015.

Publisher's summary
“The Grail is a story, a myth! It didn’t exist on your world! It can’t exist here!”

The city-state of Varuz is failing. Duke Aurelian is the last of his line, his capital is crumbling, and the armies of his enemy, Duke Conrad, are poised beyond the mountains to invade. Aurelian is preparing to gamble everything on one last battle. So when a holy man, the Doctor, comes to Varuz from beyond the mountains, Aurelian asks for his blessing in the war.

But all is not what it seems in Varuz. The city-guard have lasers for swords, and the halls are lit by electric candlelight. Aurelian’s beloved wife, Guena, and his most trusted knight, Bernhardt, seem to be plotting to overthrow their Duke, and Clara finds herself drawn into their intrigue...

Will the Doctor stop Aurelian from going to war? Will Clara’s involvement in the plot against the Duke be discovered? Why is Conrad’s ambassador so nervous? And who are the ancient and weary knights who arrive in Varuz claiming to be on a quest for the Holy Grail…?

Chapter 1
Far in the future, an elderly Bernhardt reminisces about the final days of Varuz...

Back in the present, the Twelfth Doctor and Clara Oswald are trekking down a mountain range, in search of a "quasi-medieval city" as requested by Clara. Eventually they catch sight of the capital city of Varuz, and watch the sunset over the city from afar. Shortly afterwards a power cut hits the city, leading the Doctor to speculate that Varuz is experiencing some 'local difficulty'. They proceed to travel down into the city, where they are accosted by a group of guards led by Mikhail; mistakenly identifying the Doctor as a foreign ambassador of some sort, the guards escort him to the halls of Duke Aurelian.

Chapter 2
To be added

Characters

 * Twelfth Doctor
 * Clara Oswald
 * Bernhardt
 * Aurelian
 * Guena
 * Mikhail
 * Emfil
 * Conrad
 * Lancelot
 * Lucinda

legends from the real world

 * The Glamour Knights, led by Lancelot, claim to be sent by King Arthur on a quest for the "Holy Grail".
 * The Doctor tells Bernhardt the tale of Sir Galahad.

Continuity

 * The Doctor has previously encountered Glamour technology in PROSE: Ghosts of India and The Glamour Chase.
 * The TARDIS "has a knack for finding places" where help is needed. (TV: The Doctor's Wife)

Audio release
to be added